Populations and production of fat-tailed and fat-rumped sheep in the Horn of Africa

The six countries comprising the Horn of Africa are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Somalia. Together, they cover an area of just under 5 million square kilometres and support a human population of 17.7 million at an average density of 38.15 people per square kilometre (although in the purely pastoral areas population density is probably of the order of 15–16 people per square kilometre). The Horn is a major repository of domestic animal biodiversity and genetic resources and is home to 15 million one-humped camels, 110 million cattle, 94 million goats and 102 million sheep. A list of 72 sheep “breeds” of which 23 can be considered fat-tailed or fat-rumped has been compiled for the area, although many of these are merely subtypes of a larger grouping and several are not native to the Horn. This paper provides information, where such is available, on the distribution, numbers and production parameters of the fat-tailed and fat-rumped sheep that occupy the Horn.     

Mitochondrial DNA diversity and the origin of Chinese indigenous sheep

Large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences data from previous studies were investigated to obtain genetic information which contributes to a better understanding of the genetic diversity and history of modern sheep. In this study, we analyzed mtDNA D-loop sequences of 963 individuals from 16 Chinese indigenous breeds that distributed seven geographic regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all three previously defined haplogroups A, B, and C were found in all breeds among different regions except in Southwest China mountainous region, which had only the A and B haplogroups. The weak phylogeographic structure was observed among Chinese indigenous sheep breeds distribution regions and this could be attributable to long-term strong gene flow among regions induced by the human migration, commercial trade, and extensive transport of sheep. The estimation of demographic parameters from mismatch analyses showed that haplogroups A and B had at least one demographic expansion of indigenous sheep in China.     

Genetic selection and conservation of genetic diversity*

For 100s of years, livestock producers have employed various types of selection to alter livestock populations. Current selection strategies are little different, except our technologies for selection have become more powerful. Genetic resources at the breed level have been in and out of favour over time. These resources are the raw materials used to manipulate populations, and therefore, they are critical to the past and future success of the livestock sector. With increasing ability to rapidly change genetic composition of livestock populations, the conservation of these genetic resources becomes more critical. Globally, awareness of the need to steward genetic resources has increased. A growing number of countries have embarked on large scale conservation efforts by using in situ, ex situ (gene banking), or both approaches. Gene banking efforts have substantially increased and data suggest that gene banks are successfully capturing genetic diversity for research or industry use. It is also noteworthy that both industry and the research community are utilizing gene bank holdings. As pressures grow to meet consumer demands and potential changes in production systems, the linkage between selection goals and genetic conservation will increase as a mechanism to facilitate continued livestock sector development.     

Romilly Hills羊遗传多样性的微卫星分析

利用 1 0个微卫星标记对新疆兵团农七师从南非引进的罗米丽 (RomillyHills)绵羊和中国美利奴羊 (新疆军垦型 )遗传多样性进行了检测。统计了两群体的等位基因组成、平均有效等位基因数 (E)和平均基因纯合率 ,利用等位基因频率计算出两群体的平均遗传杂合度 (h)、多态信息含量 (PIC)。结果表明 1 0个微卫星位点在RomillyHills羊、中国美利奴羊群体中的平均多态信息含量分别为 0 5952和 0 5859,除BM1 82 4、MAF65外均为高度多态 ,可作为有效的遗传标记用于两品种绵羊遗传多样性分析 ;RomillyHills羊的群体遗传变异大于中国美利奴羊 ,其遗传多样性相对丰富 ,有较大的选育潜力。     

Genetic diversity in and conservation strategy considerations for Navajo Churro sheep

The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the genetic diversity of Navajo-Churro sheep using pedigree information; 2) examine the distribution of the Navajo-Churro population; and 3) evaluate the effect of breeder dynamics on genetic conservation of the breed. Pedigree data and breeder information (city and state) were obtained from the Navajo-Churro Sheep Breed Association. Inbreeding coefficients were calculated for each individual animal using pedigree information. A geographic information system program was used to divide the United States into four regions and overlay breeder locations, flock size, and flock inbreeding level. The small correlation between level of inbreeding and flock size (r = -0.07, P = 0.07) indicated that inbreeding levels are not different across flock sizes. The mean flock inbreeding levels ranged from 0 to 11% across regions. The level of inbreeding did not differ among regions (P = 0.15), except for Region 4 (Kansas and Missouri; P = 0.001). The number of breeders registering sheep averaged 34 per year. Most of the breeders were transient, with only eight breeders maintaining ownership for more than 7 yr. Average inbreeding level for 2000 was found to be 1.2%, with a linear increase in inbreeding of 0.1%/yr over the period studied, suggesting a minimal loss of genetic diversity for the Navajo-Churro. However, given the relatively small effective population size (92) and the transient nature of the breeders, development of an ex situ cryo-preserved germplasm bank may be the best long-term strategy for maintaining this breed's genetic diversity.     

河北小尾寒羊mtDNA变异及遗传多样性分析

旨在分析河北小尾寒羊线粒体基因组变异和遗传多样性,采用线粒体基因组测序方法获得线粒体基因组序列,进行编码区变异分析;利用群体遗传学方法对非编码区进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明:河北小尾寒羊线粒体基因组编码区共发现183个变异位点,其中多肽编码区156个,r RNA基因19个和t RNA基因8个;多肽编码区发现同义突变128个,错义突变28个。非编码区共发现81个变异位点,核苷酸多样性为(0.022 22±0.006 93),单倍型多样性为(0.996±0.015),83只个体构成的65种单倍型,聚为3个单倍型群:A单倍型群包括35只个体,其中9只河北小尾寒羊,26只山东小尾寒羊;B单倍型群包括38只个体,其中13只河北小尾寒羊,25只山东小尾寒羊;C单倍型群为10只山东小尾寒羊,该单倍型群为一个独立类群。3个单倍型群A、B和C的频率分别为0.42、0.46和0.12。由此说明河北小尾寒羊遗传多样性较为丰富,与山东小尾寒羊存在基因交流。     

Microsatellite-based diversity analysis and genetic relationships of three Indian sheep breeds

The genetic structure of three Indian sheep breeds from two different geographical locations (Nali, Chokla from north‐western arid and semi‐arid region; Garole from eastern saline marshy region) of India was investigated by means of 11 ovine‐specific microsatellite markers as proposed in FAOs MoDAD programme. Microsatellite analysis revealed high allelic and gene diversity in all the three breeds. Nali sheep showed higher mean number of alleles and gene diversity (6.27 and 0.65) than Chokla (5.63 and 0.64) and Garole (5.63 and 0.59). High within population inbreeding estimates observed in the three breeds (F_IS, Chokla = 0.286, Nali = 0.284, Garole = 0.227) reflected deficit of heterozygotes. The overall estimates for F‐statistics were significantly (p < 0.05) different from zero. High values of F_ST (0.183) across all the loci revealed substantial degree of breed differentiation. Based on pair wise F_ST and N_m between different breeds, Nali and Chokla (F_ST = 6.62% and N_m = 4.80) were observed to be the closest followed by Garole and Nali (F_ST = 20.9% and N_m = 1.80), and Garole and Chokla (F_ST = 21.4% and N_m = 1.71). In addition, genetic distance estimates, phylogeny analysis and individual assignment test used to evaluate interbreed genetic proximity and population structure also revealed substantial genetic differentiation between Garole and the other two Rajasthani (Nali and Chokla) sheep. This divergent status of Garole sheep indicated genetic uniqueness of this breed suggesting higher priority for its conservation.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered Namaqua Afrikaner sheep

The Namaqua Afrikaner is an endangered sheep breed indigenous to South Africa, primarily used in smallholder farming systems. Genetic characterization is essential for the breed’s conservation and utilization. In this study, a genetic characterization was performed on 144 Namaqua Afrikaner sheep kept at the Karakul Experimental Station (KES), Carnarvon Experimental Station (CES), and a private farm Welgeluk (WGK) using 22 microsatellite markers. The mean number of alleles observed was low (3.7 for KES, 3.9 for CES, and 4.2 for WGK). Expected heterozygosity values across loci ranged between 46 % for WGK, 48 % for KES, and 55 % for CES, indicating low to moderate genetic variation. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that 89.5 % of the genetic variation was due to differences within populations. The population structure confirmed the differentiation of three clusters with high relationships between the CES and WGK populations. In the population structure comparison with Pedi and South African Mutton Merino sheep, limited hybridization between the Namaqua Afrikaner sheep and both of these breeds was observed. The results of this study will serve as a reference for genetic management and conservation of Namaqua Afrikaner sheep.     

东北民猪线粒体DNA D-loop遗传多样性与母系起源研究

为了保护东北民猪的遗传资源,对东北地区民猪群体进行线粒体DNA D-loop遗传多样性进行了调查,本研究对30头东北民猪的线粒体D-loop区部分序列(697 bp)进行扩增和测序,共检测到7个变异位点,界定了8种单倍型,核苷酸多样度(Pi)及单倍型多样度(H)分别为:0.217和0.789。结合已收录的30个亚欧猪种的线粒体D-loop序列,采用最大似然法构建的分子进化树明显分为欧洲与亚洲2个主要类群,民猪的8个单倍型都聚在亚洲分支上,并与莱芜黑猪及沂蒙黑猪较为接近,表明民猪是多母系起源群体,主要来自山东地区的华北型黑猪种群。     

Genetic diversity of Swiss sheep breeds in the focus of conservation research

There is constant pressure to improve evaluation of animal genetic resources in order to prevent their erosion. Maintaining the integrity of livestock species as well as their genetic diversity is of paramount interest for long-term agricultural policies. One major use of DNA techniques in conservation is to reveal genetic diversity within and between populations. Forty-one microsatellites were analysed to assess genetic diversity in nine Swiss sheep breeds and to measure the loss of the overall diversity when one breed would become extinct. The expected heterozygosities varied from 0.65 to 0.74 and 10.8% of the total genetic diversity can be explained by the variation among breeds. Based on the proportion of shared alleles, each of the nine breeds were clearly defined in their own cluster in the neighbour-joining tree describing the relationships among the breeds. Bayesian clustering methods assign individuals to groups based on their genetic similarity and infer the number of populations. In STRUCTURE, this approach pooled the Valais Blacknose and the Valais Red. With BAPS method the two Valais sheep breeds could be separated. Caballero & Toro approach (2002) was used to calculate the loss or gain of genetic diversity when each of the breeds would be removed from the set. The changes in diversity based on between-breed variation ranged from −12.2% (Valais Blacknose) to 0% (Swiss Black Brown Mountain and Mirror Sheep); based on within-breed diversity the removal of a breed could also produce an increase in diversity (−0.6% to + 0.6%). Allelic richness ranged from 4.9 (Valais Red) to 6.7 (Brown Headed Meat sheep and Red Engadine Sheep). Breed conservation decisions cannot be limited to genetic diversity alone. In Switzerland, conservation goals are embedded in the desire to carry the cultural legacy over to future generations.     

5个新疆绵羊群体线粒体DNA的遗传多样性研究

为了探讨5个新疆绵羊群体的群体内和群体间的遗传变异,试验采用PCR-SSCP和克隆测序技术利用3对引物对5个新疆绵羊群体的线粒体DNA做了系统的分析研究.结果表明:5个新疆绵羊品种中都存在A、B、C 3种单倍型,且以A单倍型为主,而欧洲绵羊以B单倍型为主.     

利用微卫星标记对四个绵羊品种遗传多样性的初步研究

采用3个微卫星标记，对4个中国地方绵羊品种进行遗传多样性检测。利用POPGENE软件分析了受试羊等位基因频率、等位基因数、有效等位基因数、遗传杂合度。     

The genetic diversity and structure of 18 sheep breeds exposed to isolation and selection

The phylogenetic layout of the genotyped (30 microsatellite) 18 sheep breeds in this study demands and provides the opportunity to evaluate both neutral and adaptive components of genetic diversity in a naturally and artificially selected and subdivided sheep population. Seven Pramenka strains from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia characterized by a very low intensity of artificial selection, preserved the highest neutral genetic variability. Eight central and north‐western European breeds under considerable artificial isolation and selection preserved the lowest genetic variability. Only combinations of various phylogenetic parameters offer a reasonable explanation for underlying evolutionary forces working in the investigated island and mainland sheep breeds under variable natural and artificial selection. More than 60% of total genetic, diversity was allocated to virtually unselected Pramenka strains, and an additional 25% to native moderately selected Graue Gehoernte Heidschnucke and intensively selected Ostfriesische Milchschafe. Some economically very important breeds and strains did not contribute to a pool with maximal genetic diversity, while they play an important role in the cultural heritage of respective countries.     

内蒙古野生华北驼绒藜种群遗传多样性和遗传分化研究

本研究利用ISSR分子标记技术对内蒙古6个群落野生华北驼绒藜种群的遗传多样性和遗传变异进行了分析,结果表明,内蒙古不同种群野生华北驼绒藜种水平遗传多样性较高,多态位点百分率(PPB)达到98.05%,Nei’s基因多样性指数(h)和Shannon多样性指数(I)分别为0.298 4和0.455 7;依据PPB、h和I估计的各种群内平均遗传多样性的变化趋势一致,依次为PA＞PB＞PD＞PC＞PE＞PF。华北驼绒藜遗传变异主要存在于种群内。种群间的基因流(Nm)为4.333 2,大于1。根据聚类分析,大致可以将6个群落华北驼绒藜种群分为荒漠化草原种群和典型草原种群。生境片断化目前尚不足以导致华北驼绒藜特定基因丢失,发生遗传漂变的可能性很小。     

Mitochondrial DNA diversity,origin, and phylogenic relationships of three Chinese large-fat-tailed sheep breeds

China is abundant of sheep genetic resources. A total of 55 sequences containing the Ovis aries mtDNA D-loop of three large-fat-tailed sheep breeds, named Lanzhou, Tong, and Han were retrieved from GenBank to investigate their genetic diversity, origin, and phylogenetic evolution. The results showed that the sheep breeds in our study proved to be extremely diverse, the average haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.987 ± 0.006 and 0.03956 ± 0.00206, respectively. The 55 sequences gave 39 different haplotypes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that there were three distinct mtDNA haplogroups: A, B, and C, in which haplogroup A was predominant and had experienced population expansion events. Clustering analysis showed that the large-fat-tailed sheep breeds clustered into one group and were closely related to the Mongolian sheep and then European mouflon sheep (Ovis musimon). The results contribute to the knowledge of Chinese sheep breeds and the plan of conservation programs on large-fat-tailed sheep.     

甘南州蕨麻猪mtDNA D-环序列的起源及遗传多样性分析

为了研究甘南州蕨麻猪mtDNA D-环序列起源与遗传多样性,利用文献报道的1对引物对蕨麻猪mtDNA D-环序列进行PCR扩增及测序,对所得数据进行单倍型、遗传多样性、系统发育树和网络关系分析.分析结果显示,135头蕨麻猪mtDNA D-环序列表现出3种长度变异,其中4个序列长度为1 199 bp,3个序列长度是1 319 bp,127个序列长度为1 219 bp.对127个长度为1 219 bp的序列进行分析,发现83个单倍型.单倍型比例、单倍型多样度、核苷酸多样度和平均核苷酸差异数在卡加曼蕨麻猪最高,而在夏河蕨麻猪为最低.系统发育树和网络关系分析均将83个单倍型分为2个分支,说明蕨麻猪具有2个母系起源.与其他猪种mtDNA D-环序列比较,蕨麻猪与东南沿海野猪有较近的亲缘关系,没有发现东亚与东南亚野猪对蕨麻猪的起源有贡献的证据.     

我国6个绵(山)羊群体遗传分化的微卫星分析

为进一步了解我国绵(山)羊群体的品种特性及其遗传分化,本文利用微卫星标记对我国6个绵(山)羊群体遗传分化进行了分析。采用中心产区典型群随机抽样方法用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测乌珠穆沁羊7个微卫星位点,并引用同实验室小尾寒羊、滩羊、湖羊、同羊、长江三角洲白山羊(参照群体)的相关资料进行群体遗传分化水平分析。研究表明:7个微卫星位点在乌珠穆沁羊、小尾寒羊、滩羊、湖羊、同羊、山羊这6个品种中均存在遗传多态性,各座位等位基因均较丰富。根据标准遗传距离、DA遗传距离以及模糊相容关系进行聚类分析,湖羊与同羊首先聚为一类,乌珠穆沁羊和小尾寒羊聚为一类,然后与滩羊聚为一类,5个绵羊品种最后与山羊相聚。     

30份野牛草种质的遗传多样性

以从美国及中国收集的30份野牛草（Buchloe dactyloides）种质为研究对象,对供试材料的基本坪用性状如叶长、叶宽、株高、茎粗、分蘖数、匍匐茎数量、匍匐茎长度、匍匐茎节数、叶色、叶片枯黄程度等进行田间观测。利用简单重复序列（ISSR）分子标记技术,对供试野牛草的遗传多样性进行分析。研究结果显示,1）供试材料的叶色呈现显著差异（P<0.05）,叶长、叶宽、茎粗、株高、匍匐茎长度和匍匐茎节数差异极显著（P<0.01）,分蘖数、匍匐茎数目和叶片枯黄程度没有显著差异;2）7个ISSR引物对30份不同地理来源的野牛草进行扩增,共检测到108个扩增位点,其中多态性位点90个,多态性比率（PPB）为82.6%,平均每条引物可以扩增出15.6条带,说明供试的野牛草材料间遗传差异较大;3）30份野牛草的遗传相似系数（GS）值变化范围为0.546~0.880,表明了供试材料具有丰富的遗传多样性;4）在遗传距离的基础上进行UPGMA聚类分析,30份野牛草可被分为5组,该结果表明遗传距离的差异是导致供试野牛草材料整体遗传差异较大的主要原因。     

甘肃滩羊地方种群遗传变异及遗传分化的生化遗传学研究(Ⅰ)

运用群体遗传学分析软件GENEPOP(version 1.31)统计分析了甘肃滩羊三个群体群体内的遗传变异和群体间的遗传分化情况.结果表明:甘肃滩羊群体内虽有一定的遗传变异,但变异程度不高,三个群体之间的遗传分化程度仍然处于一个非常低的水平,群体间在遗传结构上彼此非常接近.     

Toxoplasmosis in sheep,goats and cattle in central Ethiopia

In a seroepidemiological survey using an indirect haemagglutination assay, the prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in central Ethiopia was 22.9% of 899 sheep, 11.6% of 753 goats and 6.6% of 785 cattle. There were high titres of 1:256 or more which suggest current infections. These results indicate that toxoplasmosis may be an important cause of reproductive wastage in small ruminants. The public health significance of this disease is discussed. Improved hygiene and management could reduce the prevalence of the disease.