Archaeozoological evidence indicates that sheep were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent. To search for DNA sequence diversity arising from previously undetected domestication events, this survey examined nine breeds of sheep from modern-day Turkey and Israel. A total of 2027 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence from 197 sheep revealed a total of 85 haplotypes and a high level of genetic diversity. Six individuals carried three haplotypes, which clustered separately from the known ovine mtDNA lineages A, B, and C. Analysis of genetic distance, mismatch distribution, and comparisons with wild sheep confirmed that these represent two additional mtDNA lineages denoted D and E. The two haplogroup E sequences were found to link the previously identified groups A and C. The single haplogroup D sequence branched with the eastern mouflon (Ovis orientalis), urial (O. vignei), and argali (O. ammon) sheep. High sequence diversity (K ¼ 1.86%, haplogroup D and O. orientalis) indicates that the wild progenitor of this domestic lineage remains unresolved. The identification in this study of evidence for additional domestication events adds to the emerging view that sheep were recruited from wild populations multiple times in the same way as for other livestock species such as goat, cattle, and pig. A RCHAEOZOOLOGICAL evidence from the ancient Levant points to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period, 9000-8000 years ago, as the time when sheep were first herded from the wild, tamed, and domesticated (reviewed by Legge 1996). The form of this wild ancestral population and the number of times and the process of its domestication remain unknown, as does its genetic contribution to the .1400 breeds (Scherf 2000) currently recognized in today's agricultural systems.Mitochondrial sequencing has been used to elucidate the complexity and origins of many modern domestic livestock species, leading to a general theme of multiple maternal lineages. Recent studies of pigs (Larson et al. 2005) et al. 2002). Most recently, a single Karachai animal sampled from the north Caucasus revealed control region sequence, which grouped separately from the three defined ovine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) clades (Tapio et al. 2006). This was taken as evidence for a fourth maternal lineage and termed group D.Ovine mitochondrial clade structure and global distribution patterns have been examined using network diagrams generated from collated published control region sequence (Chen et al. 2006;Pereira et al. 2006). These phylogenies, based on a maximum of 531 bp, show clade B to be dominated by animals localized to Europe, clade C by sheep from the Middle East and Asia, and clade A to be a mixture from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Generally, these three lineages form starburst clusters, evidence of population expansion, but distant haplotypes are apparent in each group. In clade A, these outliers have been used to suggest group substructure and perhaps a more complicated ovine population history (Chen et al. 2006).The aim of this study wa...

The aim of this study was to determine models which will be used for the estimation of adult live weights based on some body measurements using multiple regression model in Karya sheep of different age groups. Animal material of the study consisted of a total of 215 Karya sheep. Least squares means for live weight, body length, rump height, withers height, back height, chest depth, chest girth, and chest width of Karya sheep in Adnan Menderes University Group Sheep Breeding Program elite flock and breeder flocks were found as 47.24 kg, 67.08, 68.29, 68.58, 66.97, 30.04, 93.24, and 18.29 cm, respectively. Karya ewes were put into five categories according to ages (2-6 years). High positive phenotypic correlation coefficients were observed between live weight and body measurements of animals in different age groups (2-6 years). Among the formed multiple regression models, the highest coefficients of determination (R(2)) were obtained from the models formed for body length or body length and chest girth together (R(2) = 0.79, R (2) = 0.87). It is concluded that live weight of Karya sheep can be estimated with a high accuracy using some body measurements and statistical methods.

The genetic variability of 204 sheep from nine breeds (Awassi, Çine Çaparı, Karakaş, Karya, Karayaka, Morkaraman, Norduz, Sakız and Tuj) growing in four different regions (western, northern, eastern and south-eastern Anatolia) was assessed using 18 microsatellite loci. High mean number of alleles, allelic richness and factorial correspondence analysis showed the degree of admixture between native sheep breeds of Turkey. The Karya and Çine Çaparı breeds were observed as the most distinct of the breeds, and possible introgressions were detected in other breeds. It was found that 8.9% of genetic variation resulted from the difference between the populations. The genetic variation in Turkish breeds was not much higher than that of European breeds, which might be a consequence of the recent sharp decrease in sheep numbers.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the body condition score (BCS) of ewes before and during the mating season on their reproductive performance under an extensive production system. In this study, 240 Kivircik sheep from the flocks of two breeders were used for over a 2-year period. The flocks were fed under extensive conditions on natural pastures throughout the year. The ewes were synchronized in two different periods, one of which was 45 days before the other. Before the introduction of rams to the ewes, the ewes were weighed after measuring their BCS. Detailed records were kept for every flock in each year. We found significant effects of BCS on pregnancy rate, lambing rate (P < 0.05) and fecundity (P < 0.05). The BCS for the highest pregnancy, lambing rate, and fecundity was determined between 2.01 and 3.00, while the lowest rates for these traits were ≤ 1.50. The highest rates of the pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and fecundity and gestation productivity were 75.9%, 70.9%, 1.11 and 3.34 kg, respectively.

IntroductionSheep production has a significant share in the animal protein market and there are various factors affecting meat quality (1-3). Although lamb is considered fattier than other meats by a lot of consumers, its fat content is not regarded as a problem as it gives tenderness and more flavor to the meat. However, improper rearing and/ or feeding conditions might cause excessive fattening, which reduces demand from customers. In recent years, the production of lamb, which is preferred by the majority of consumers in Turkey and Mediterranean countries, has declined in Turkey due to a numerical decrease in the sheep population.In the western Anatolian region of Turkey (particularly in the Aegean and Marmara regions) there is a high demand for the meat of Kıvırcık and Kıvırcık crossbred lambs, which is one of the thin-tailed lamb genotypes. Eşme District in Uşak Province is a large market for lamb production in western Anatolia. Due to this demand, there is intensive lamb shipment from Eşme to many city and district centers in the Aegean Region, particularly to İzmir, for slaughter purposes between April and June. Apart from this period, large numbers are shipped to neighboring cities as sacrificial lambs.Rearing systems and feeding conditions have a significant role in carcass formation and meat quality. Important factors in terms of carcass and meat quality include ratio of valuable carcass components, pH, color, water loss, cooking loss, tenderness, and fatty acid composition (4,5). Lamb meat quality involves parameters such as carcass quality characteristics (proportion and distribution of carcass components), meat quality characteristics (chemical composition, microbial characteristics), and eating quality evaluated by panelists (tenderness, juiciness, flavor, total acceptability). Although consumers and retailers desire high eating quality in meat, it is difficult to develop these characteristics due to the technological, financial, and biological limitations for animal farmers (6-8). Desirable traits in meat are high sensory characteristics such as tenderness, juiciness, color, flavor, and a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Kıvırcık lamb is considered to have good meat quality compared to other breeds (6).The present study aimed to determine meat quality of Kıvırcık lambs reared in Eşme, which has a large number of sheep. pH, color, tenderness, water loss, cooking loss, shear force properties, and fatty acid composition were determined from muscle samples collected from different sections of the carcass.