Quantitative trait loci for fleece traits in Baluchi Sheep

Abstract

Three sheep chromosome regions (OAR1, OAR5 and OAR25) were selected to study quantitative trait loci (QTL) segregating for wool traits in Baluchi sheep, an indigenous sheep breed in Iran. A total of 503 progeny from 13 half-sib families were genotyped for 15 microsatellite markers. The data were collected from Research Centre on Baluchi breed from 2009-2010. Wool traits were corrected for fixed effects of birth-year, sex, herd, and litter size. The average number of progeny per sire was 38 and ranged between 16 and 59. The QTL analyses were performed using regression-based interval mapping. The results revealed 7 QTL on OAR1 for type fiber traits (hetero-type, kemp and true wool percent in fleece), coefficient of variation of fiber diameter, greasy and clean fleece weight and staple length, 2 QTL on OAR5 for hetero-type wool percent and clean fleece, and 6 QTL on OAR25 for type wool traits, greasy and clean fleece weight and coefficient of variation of average fiber diameter.