Within- and between-Breed Selection Signatures in the Original and Improved Valachian Sheep

Animals

Gábor Mészáros¹  Milan Margetín²  Mária Mészárosová³  Nina Moravčíková³  Radovan Kasarda³  Ivan Pavlík⁴ 

[1] Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Division of Livestock Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria;Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia;Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Institute of Nutrition and Genomics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia;Research Institute of Animal Production—NPPC Slovakia, Hlohovecká 2, 95141 Nitra—Lužianky, Slovakia;

关键词: selection sweep;    quantitative trait loci;    inbreeding;    ROH islands;    linkage disequilibrium;    endangered populations;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani12111346

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This study explored the genomic diversity and selection signatures in two Slovakian national breeds, the Original Valachian and the Improved Valachian sheep. As they are an important animal genetic resource within the country, but with decreasing population size, our aim is to identify potentially valuable genomic regions. A total of 97 sheep (18 male and 79 female) from the Original Valachian, and 69 sheep (25 male and 44 female) from the Improved Valachian populations were genotyped using the GeneSeek GGP Ovine 50 K chip. The inbreeding levels were assessed with runs of homozygosity (ROH). The selection signatures within breeds were identified based on the top 1% of most homozygous regions within the breed, the so-called ROH islands. The selection signatures between breeds were assessed based on variance in linkage disequilibrium. Overall, we have identified selection signatures with quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes pointing towards all three production purposes of the Valachian sheep, milk, meat, and wool, including their quality characteristics. Another group with apparent large importance was the various traits related to health and resistance to parasites, which is well in line with the sturdy nature of this breed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown