Abstract
?-LG gene polymorphism at the DNA level has been analyzed by PCR-RFLP and reported two genetic variants of the ? -LG gene in Pag native and Leccese sheep breeds. However, no study has been reported in Barki Egyptian local sheep breed regarding ? -LG polymorphism at DNA level. The association of ?- LG polymorphism with milk production and manufacturing properties of the cheese in sheep have been extensively studied. However, the results are conflicting, indicating either superiority of a given ? - LG variant or absence of relationship. The fingerprinting of ? -LG gene and this relation has not clarified yet in local Barki and other sheep breeds raised in Egypt. Regarding the importance of Barki sheep breed as a local adaptive breed in Egypt, this preliminary study aimed to fingerprint ?-LG gene in the Barki sheep breed, in an attempt to have clear image about genotypes of ?-LG gene in this breed. A total of 60 adult females Barki ewes were fingerprinted for ?-LG gene by the PCR-RFLP method. The sheep are raised by farmers in North West coast (Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt) in which sheep are living in natural habitats. The amplified product was observed as 120 bp and the restriction digestion with Rsa I revealed three genotypes, namely AA, and BB at the ?-LG locus. The frequencies of AA, and BB genotypes were 0.45, 0.30, 0.25, respectively.
Highlights
Sheep contribute 6% of the total red meet produced in Egypt
Barki sheep is well adaptive Egyptian breed to the harsh environmental condition in Egypt especially in semi arid region and this study aims to fingerprint of β-lactoglobulin gene in this native breed in an attempt to have clear image about genotypes frequencies of this gene and comparing with other Mediterranean dairy sheep breeds
PCR- RFLP of β - LG gene: Allele discrimination was based on size differentiation of β- LG genetic markers
Summary
Sheep contribute 6% of the total red meet produced in Egypt. Regarding the economic importance of sheep in meat production in Egypt, it becomes essential to make fingerprinting of some genes related to economic traits such as litter size and growth rate, milk yield in order to determine the polymorphism pattern of these genes in the Egyptian sheep breeds. Determination of the genetic diversity of indigenous sheep in Egypt in respect to these important economic genes has not been sufficiently studied. Genetic characterization and determination of genetic differences between and within sheep breeds will help in the genetic improvement programs. In Egypt, most commercial sheep are raised in very small flocks in low-input systems. Genetic improvement is largely accomplished through government-owned flocks, with progeny from these flocks distributed to producers. Breeding objectives are needed to develop selection programs for these breeds (Almahdy et al, 2000)
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