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Association between GDF9, FecB and Prolactin gene polymorphisms and prolificacy of Awassi sheep
Prolificacy data of 208 ewes and 27 rams were used to investigate the effect of growth differentiation factor, fecundity and prolactin genes on prolificacy. Genotyping process was achieved by PCR-RFLP technique. Genotypic frequencies of growth differentiation factor 9 gene were 0.889, 0.12, and 0.00 for MM genotype, MN genotype, and NN genotype, respectively. The genotypic frequencies of prolactin gene were 0.646 for AA, 0.221 to AB and 0.131 for BB genotypes. Fecundity gene was monomorphic. Prolificacy records were adjusted for the effect of parity, season and dam weight at lambing. Mixed model procedure was used for the association analysis by including the sires as random. Prolificacy only differed (P<0.05) between prolactin gene variants, BB genotype had 0.16 and 0.11 more prolificacy than AA and AB, respectively. The association results suggested the ability of using prolactin gene to assist the selection for improving Prolificacy.
Keywords:
Sheep
Fecundity
Genetics
