Populations of Tuvan Shot-Fat-Tailed Sheep in the Structure of the Gene Pool of Sheep Breeds of the Russian Federation

Abstract

Using 11 microsatellite markers (ОarCP49, INRA063, HSC, OarAE129, MAF214, OarFCB11, INRA005, SPS113, INRA23, MAF65, McM527), data were obtained on the levels of variability and degree of differentiation of 24 populations (1140 samples) of the Tuvan coarse-haired short-fat-tailed sheep of different regions of the Republic of Tyva and 24 breeds of sheep (721 samples) of various origins, covering the main sheep-breeding regions of the Russian Federation. During the analysis, a high level of genetic isolation and variability of Tuvan sheep was found, and in the general structure of Russian sheep breeds, a pronounced genetic divergence was revealed into two large groups, one of which unites fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced sheep, and the other indigenous coarse-wooled breeds of North Caucasian and Asian origin