Milk protein polymorphism study in some Romanian sheep breeds.

Abstract

In sheep, the polymorphism of major milk proteins is reduced as compared with other ruminant species, like cattle and goats. As in other ruminant species, in sheep these polymorphisms were studied relative to milk quantity, quality and it’s manufacturing properties or for authenticity identification of dairy products. In Romania, data concerning the characterization of the sheep breeds in the six loci codifying for major milk proteins genes are almost absent. The importance of sheep milk in Romanian cheese industry makes the knowledge of major milk proteins polymorphism in this specie particularly important. Therefore, a number of 282 individuals belonging to five Romanian breeds: Turcana, Carabasa, Tigaie (white and rusty varieties), Cluj Merinos, Botosani Karakul (black, dark grey, brown, light grey, pink and white varieties), were genotyped by IEF in the six loci coding for major milk proteins. In the sheep breeds studied, the milk protein polymorphism was much reduced, the most polymorphic being ?-LG locus, in which two allele were identified, namely A and B. The A allele had a higher frequency as compared with B allele in Turcana, Carabasa, Cluj Merinos and Karakul breed, respectively. The B allele had a higher frequency in Tigaie breed, white and rusty varieties.