Association Analysis between Five Microsatellite Loci and Litter Size in Small Tail Han Sheep

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore associations between five microsatellites linked to Fec B and FecX I genes and litter size in Small Tail Han sheep. The polymorphisms of five microsatellite loci, OarAE101, BM1329, BMS2508, TGLA54 and TGLA68 were detected in 244 ewes of Small Tail Han sheep. Analysis of association between three microsatellite loci (BMS2508, BM1329 and OarAE101) located in the 10 cM region covering the Fec B gene (Booroola gene) and litter size in Small Tail Han sheep indicated that BMS2508 had significant effect on litter size in the second parity (p<0.05), but no significant effect on litter size in the first parity (p>0.05), while the other two microsatellite loci had no significant effect on litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep (p>0.05). At microsatellite locus BMS2508, least squares means in the second parity of genotypes 101/111 and 99/109 were significantly higher than those of genotypes 99/99, 99/101, 99/111 and 99/115 (p<0.05); least squares mean in the second parity of genotype 101/111 was significantly higher than that of genotypes 109/111 and 111/111 (p<0.05). Results of this study also indicated that two microsatellite loci (TGLA54 and TGLA68) that confined the 28.7 cM region covering the FecX I gene (Inverdale gene) did not affect litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep significantly (p>0.05). The information found in the present study is very important for improving the reproductive performance in sheep breeds by marker assisted selection.

Effects of anthelmintic treatment on ewe feed intake, digestion, milk production and lamb growth

“…The Small Tailed Han (STH) is a dual-purpose meat and wool sheep breed well-known for high lamb growth rates in China (Chu et al . 2003), and the Ujumqin (UJU) is a sheep breed indigenous to China that produces high quality meat (Ren et al . 2011).…”

Genetic Resources and Diversity among Sheep Breeds of Asia and Europe

“…Molecular genetics revealed the relationship between population of sheep and genetic variation. Autosomal microsatellites can be used to understand the history of sheep population (Forbes et al, 1995;Walling et al, 2004) as well as breed relationship from Europe (Arranz et al, 1998;Diez-Tascon et al, 2000;Tapio et al, 2003) and Asia (Chu et al, 2003). Molecular evidences revealed that sheep has been transported between geographical areas.…”

“…Paleontology with the help of molecular genetics provides great information about origin and dispersal of sheep (Poplin, 1979;Hiendleder et al, 1998;Pedrosa et al, 2005;Chessa et al, 2009;Meadows et al, 2007Meadows et al, , 2011Kijas et al, 2009Kijas et al, , 2012Demirci et al, 2013). Autosomal microsatellites used for the understanding of population history (Forbes et al, 1995;Walling et al, 2004) as well as the relationship between the Europe and Asia sheep breeds (Arranz et al, 1998(Arranz et al, , 2001Diez-Tascon et al, 2000;Tapio et al, 2003;Chu et al, 2003). As sheep is considered one of the earliest livestock species (Zeder et al, 2006;Sen et al, 2011) it has important role in domestication process.…”

Fecundity gene linked microsatellite markers in Malabari goats

“…The average litter size of the population under study was 1.733. Chu et al (2003) reported an average litter size of 2.57 for the genotype 98/98. So there is chance that the animals with the allele 104 bp will produce high litter size.…”