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Exposition of variations between breeds is very important for genetic diversity. Determination of this variation is needed to reveal population structure and relationship between populations and planning national breeding and conservation programmes. This study was carried out in 296 animals from 12 different local sheep breeds (Barbarine, Ouled Djellal, Ifilene, Srandi, Darâa, Rembi, Berbere, Taâdmit, Hamra, Sidaou, Tazegzawt and D'men) reared in different regions of Algeria. Fifteen microsatellite markers were used to determine between breed genetic diversity. The population of 12 sheep breeds studied from Algeria exhibited a high number of alleles (24.67) and polymorphic information content (0.90). Observed heterozygosity values were lower than expected for all molecular markers except INRA0123 locus. Obtained G ST value from the present study indicated that 1.9% of total genetic variation resulted from the differences between the breeds. The present study supplied important information to understand between breed genetic differences. Moreover, it has provided the opportunity to discuss with previously reported results. In light of these findings, it can be said that studied microsatellite markers can be successfully used to determine genetic diversity and population structure in Algerian sheep breeds. ARTICLE HISTORY

Sheep are considered as a major contributor of global food security. Moreover, sheep preweaning growth traits as well as in vivo carcass composition traits such as ultrasonic measurements of Longissimus dorsi muscle depth (UMD) and back‐fat thickness (UFD) are crucially important indicators of meat yield and hot carcass composition. Despite their relative importance for productivity and profitability of a sheep production system, detected QTL for these traits are quite scarce. Therefore, we implemented GWAS for these traits using animal mixed model‐based association approach provided by GenABEL in Esme sheep. Three genome‐wide and 14 individual chromosome‐wide associated SNPs were discovered. As a result, ESRP1, LOC105613082, ZNF641, DUSP5, TEAD1, SMOX, PTPRT, RALYL, POM121C, PHIP, LOC101106051, ZIM3, PEG3, TRPC7, FBXL4, LOC105610397, LOC105616489 and DNAAF2 were suggested as candidates. Some of the discovered genes and involved pathways were already annotated to contribute growth and development in various species including human, mice and cattle. All in all, the results of this study are expected to strongly contribute to shed a light on the underlying molecular mechanisms behind growth and carcass composition traits, with potential implications on studies aiming faster genetic improvement, targeted low‐resolution SNP panel designs and genome‐editing studies.

SummaryThis study was to investigate the association of Calpastatin (CAST) gene with carcass quality characteristics in Kıvırcık lambs, which are important in Turkey in terms of meat production and quality. It was found that allele M of Calpastatin locus was the most common allele. MM, MN and NN genotype frequencies were 72.91%, 22.66% and 4.43%, respectively. This SNP was associated with backfat thickness and skin+backfat thickness values of loin eye muscle (Musculus longissimus thoracis et lumborum-MLD) and average daily gain (P<0.05). Live weight, average daily gain, backfat thickness and skin+backfat thickness mean values were found to be lower in animals with NN genotype when compared to those with MM and MN genotype. The results showed that Calpastatin gene affected back fat and skin+backfat and that they had less fatty carcass than those with NN genotype. Keywords: Kıvırcık, CAST, Ultrasonic measurement, MLD, Weaning weight Kıvırcık Kuzularda Calpastatin Gen Polimorfizmi ve Sütten Kesim Ağırlığı ve Ultrasonik Göz Kası Ölçümleri İle İlişkisi ÖzetBu çalışmada Türkiye'de önemli bir et tipi koyun olan Kıvırcık ırkı kuzularda karkas kalite karakteristikleri ile Calpastatin geninin ilişkisi araştırılmıştır. Kıvırcık kuzularda Calpastatin lokusunun M allelinin en yaygın allel olduğu tespit edilmiştir. MM, MN ve NN genotipleri için genotip frekansları sırasıyla %72.91, %22.66 ve %4.43 olarak bulunmuştur. Bu tek nokta mutasyonunun (SNP) bel gözü kasına (Musculus longissimus thoracis et lumborum-MLD) ait yağ kalınlığı ve deri+yağ kalınlığı değerleri ve günlük canlı ağırlık artışı ile ilişkili olduğu ortaya konmuştur (P<0.05). Canlı ağırlık, ortalama günlük canlı ağırlık artışı, yağ kalınlığı ve deri+yağ kalınlığı ortalamaları NN genotipine sahip hayvanlarda MM ve MN genotipine göre daha düşük bulunmuştur. Elde edilen bulgular yağ kalınlığı ve deri+yağ kalınlığı üzerine Calpastatin allelerinin etkili olduğunu ve NN genotipi taşıyanların diğerlerine göre daha yağsız karkasa sahip olduğunu göstermektedir.

Ultrasound Measurements of Backfat Thickness and Musculus longissmus dorsi thoracis et lumborum (MLD) Depth at the Weaning on Karacabey Merino, Karya and Kıvırcık Lambs AbstractThe experiment was conducted to determine the ultrasonic measurements of backfat thickness and Musculus longissmus dorsi thoracis et lumborum (MLD) characteristics at weaning. Ultrasonic measurements of MLD in Karacabey (258), Karya (168) and Kıvırcık (241) were performed in 667 lambs born in 2012-2013 lambing season. Least square means for backfat thickness, skin+fat thickness, muscle depth, average daily gain and weaning weight, at the mean age of 115 days, were 0.31 cm, 0.55 cm, 2.09 cm, 229.57 g and 29.20 kg respectively. Results for backfat thickness, skin+backfat thickness, muscle depth of MLD and average daily gain and weaning weight were compatible with differences for live weight among the breeds. All the correlation coefficients between ultrasound measurements of MLD properties, used to determine the effect of conformation and fatness status, and live weight were positive and statistically significant.

Cattle are an important livestock species for human life, but certain breeds are at risk of extinction. Maintaining genetic diversity plays an important role in sustainable breeding and conservation programmes in farm animals. The aim of this study was to determine genetic diversity among five Turkish native cattle breeds. A total of 199 Turkish native cattle of the Native Southern Yellow (n = 40), South Anatolian Red (n = 40), Anatolian Grey Cattle (n = 40), Native Black Cattle (n = 39) and East Anatolian Red (n = 40) breeds were investigated using 22 autosomal microsatellite markers. The analysis revealed considerable genetic variation among these breeds. All loci were polymorphic, and a total of 545 alleles were found. Among these loci, only INRA032 was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Thirty-four private alleles with frequencies greater than 5% were found. Expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content indexes were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. Native Southern Yellow, South Anatolian Red and Native Black Cattle breeds were closely related.

The calpastatin (CAST) gene has a major effect on muscle growth and meat tenderness after slaughter; it is located on the fifth chromosome in sheep. Blood samples were collected from 720 animals in total from Kıvırcık (KIV), Sakız (SZ), Karacabey Merino (KM), and Gökçeada (GA) sheep populations raised in West Anatolia. The PCR products were digested by the restriction endonuclease MspI. Allele frequencies for M and N alleles of the gene were found to be 0.85 and 0.15 in KIV, 0.80 and 0.20 in KM, 0.99 and 0.01 in GA, and 0.34 and 0.66 in SZ sheep, respectively. It was determined that NN genotype frequency was quite lower in KIV (0.04) and KM (0.07) populations than in the SZ breed (0.40). On the other hand, the NN genotype was not observed in the GA population. Populations other than KM were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In general, allele and genotype frequencies of CAST were similar to those in other studies on different sheep populations. This research is a beginning step for finding candidate genes' effects on meat quantity and quality.

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