Genetic marker of meat productivity in sheep of Soviet Merino breed
Abstract
In recent years, the research activities of domestic and foreign specialists in the field of genetics and breeding of animals have been focused on the search for and implementation of innovative methodological approaches that have signicant potential for interaction with traditional breeding methods. Integrating these methods into breeding and pedigree work requires conducting fundamental scientific research. Developing a model of the breeding process based on knowledge of the molecular genetic characteristics of the population will make it possible to e•ffectively implement these technologies in sheep breeding practice. In sheep breeding, a number of marker genes associated with economically significant economically useful traits have been identified. The purpose of the work was to study the genetic structure of the flock of sheep of Soviet Merino breed based on the GH gene. Earmark samples were taken from Soviet Merino sheep belonging to the autochthonous population in the Rostov region for molecular genetic analysis. Genotyping was carried out by using the PCR-RFLP method. The polymorphism of the growth hormone gene was studied, and a selection-genetic assessment of the live weight indicators of the sheep was carried out for di•fferent age periods, depending on the genotype. The use of DNA markers to select animals carrying desirable alleles of genes associated with economically valuable traits is a promising modern approach to solving this problem. The population is characterized by genetic heterogeneity with respect to the GH gene, which creates the prerequisites for e•ffective targeted selection. Animals with the GHAB genotype had greater live weight at all age periods compared to those with homozygous genotypes. At the age of 4 months, a advantage 5.2 % and 2.0 % of the heterozygous genotype was established, and by the age of six months, the di•fference amounted to 10.6 % and 4.0 %, respectively. Developing a model of the breeding process based on knowledge of the molecular-genetic characteristics of the population will make it possible to eff•ectively implement these technologies in sheep farming.