Investigation on prolificacy variation in four sheep populations from Iranian nomads using joint information of phenotypes, DNA markers and geographic information system

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Graduated MSc. Student, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran

2 Assistant professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Tabriz

3 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan

5 Ph.D. student, Department of plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Putra, Serdang, Malaysia

Abstract

The genetic diversity of the world’s livestock populations is decreasing, both within and across breeds. The conservation of livestock genetic variability is thus important, especially when considering possible future changes in production environments.  Current research focuses on GIS analysis of the sheep diversity based on fecundity and DNAmarkers of four sheep breeds over Iran. A totalof 97 mature ewes (Afshari=19; Baluchi=18; Makui=30 and Mehraban=30) collected with known single or twin lambings from different locations of Iran to assess  genetic  diversity of fecundity using  morphology, DNA information analysis  and  DIVA-geographic  information  system  (GIS). Polymorphism of two GDF9 and BMP15 candidate geneswas investigated using PCR-RFLP. Litter size was significantly influenced by genotype of each gene, and heterozygous genotypes for both loci showed higher litter size than the homozygous genotypes (P<0.01). According to the obtainedresults, the regions that are richest in diversity located in North West of Iran. DIVA-GIS showed the highest diversity index for fecundity between Iranian indigenous sheep. The  highest  diversity index  for  fecundity was  observed  in  the  sheep breed from  North West   parts  of  Iran.

Keywords

References

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Animal Production Research
Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
September 2015
Pages 77-86

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