Detection of the DGAT1 Gene Variation and Its Association with Growth Traits in Degeres Sheep
Simple Summary Sheep are an important source of meat in Kazakhstan, and improving their growth and meat quality can benefit both farmers and consumers. One way to achieve this is by identifying genes that influence these traits. In this study, we examined four genes involved in growth, muscle development, and fat metabolism in Degeres sheep. We measured how these genes were expressed in different body tissues and searched for polymorphisms that are associated with growth traits. We identified a genetic variation in one gene (DGAT1) that was associated with chest width, an important growth characteristic. The results suggest that this variant might be useful for selecting sheep with desirable growth traits in future breeding programs. Additional studies involving larger numbers of animals are needed to confirm these findings before they can be applied in sheep breeding.