Relationships between rare breeds of sheep in the Netherlands as based on blood-typing.

Abstract

Genetic distances between seven Dutch rare breeds of sheep were established as based upon blood groups and biochemical polymorphisms. A rather close relationship was observed between three breeds of heath sheep (Drente, Veluwe and Kempen) and the Schoonebeker sheep. The Mergelland sheep was less related to this cluster. The largest distances were between Friesian sheep and Black Blaze sheep and all others.