Abstract
In Algeria and Turkey, the sheep production systems are based on the under extensive rural conditions and their genetic management has led to increased homozygosity and hence productivity loss. The identification of inter-breed and intra-breed genetic diversity plays a key role in the shaping of conservation and breeding programs. The present study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of native sheep breeds reared in Turkey and Algeria. A total of 240 animals from four Algerian (Hamra, Ouled Djellal, Sidaou, and Tazegzawt) and four Turkish (White Karaman, South Karaman, Karacabey Merino, and Kıvırcık) native sheep breeds were genotyped with fourteen microsatellite markers recommended by FAO. A total of 340 alleles were detected from fourteen markers studied. All the eight breeds exhibited moderate to high levels of genetic diversity, with a slight superiority of the Algerian sheep breeds. Overall FIS value was low, but highly significant (p < 0.001). It may have been due to the high inbreeding within the population. The mean global coefficient of gene differentiation (GST) showed that approximately 94.0 % of the genetic variation was within-population. The highest number of private alleles with a frequency above 5 % was observed in Ouled Djellal sheep. Structure analysis of populations studied revealed the most appropriate K with four genetic clusters. As the result, the dendrogram showed that the Algerian sheep breeds were completely separated from the Turkish sheep breeds furthermore the Bayesian clustering revealed a high level of admixture, especially in Algerian sheep populations.
Highlights
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been a very important farm animal species for the people economically and culturally since its domestication time around the world (Ryder, 1983)
Algeria and Turkey are endowed with diverse farm animal genetic resources including the sheep breeds they are favored by the different climates existed and vegetation, which has since generated a very specific sheep breeding practice
Blood samples were obtained from 240 sheep, which consist of Hamra (30), Ouled Djellal (30), Sidaou (30), Tazegzawt (30) raised in Algeria and White Karaman (30), South Karaman (30), Karacabey Merino (30) and Kıvırcık sheep (30) breeds raised in Turkey (Figure 1)
Summary
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been a very important farm animal species for the people economically and culturally since its domestication time around the world (Ryder, 1983). Algeria and Turkey are endowed with diverse farm animal genetic resources including the sheep breeds they are favored by the different climates existed and vegetation, which has since generated a very specific sheep breeding practice. The majority of the sheep population of Turkey and Algeria is composed of multipurpose native breed producing meat, milk, and wool. South Karaman sheep breed, which is one of these breeds and especially raised in the Taurus Mountains located in the Mediterranean region, is a fat tail native sheep breed. Kıvırcık and Karacabey Merino sheep breeds are especially raised in western part of Turkey are known for their meat quality, wool, and meat production (Öner et al, 2014; Yilmaz et al, 2011, Karaca et al, 2009). Karacabey Merino was developed by crossbreeding of Kıvırcık and German Black Head Mutton (Yalcın, 1986)
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