The Significance of a Multilocus Analysis for Assessing the Biodiversity of the Romanov Sheep Breed in a Comparative Aspect

Abstract

The Romanov breed was evaluated using immunological and genetic markers. The seven blood group systems were characterized with a greater accuracy than in previous works on sheep in the Russian Federation, and were compared to eight ruminant species. Unlike other breeds, Romanov sheep have more HBA than HBB alleles. The genotype number at the transferrin locus is limited to 3–4 compared to 6–11 in the other breeds. At the albumin locus, the majority of the identified genotypes were heterozygotes, unlike the other breeds studied. In the prealbumin locus, the Romanov breed was the only one where all the genotypes were heterozygous. In this breed, a polymorphism was established for two loci responsible for high ovulation rates. Based on different genetic markers, the prevalence of heterozygotes in the Romanov sheep could determine their higher viability. A cluster analysis showed the close proximity of 12 populations of the Romanov breed, as the breeding stock come from the Yaroslavl region.