ASSOCIATION OF SOME BIOCHEMICAL-GENETIC MARKERS WITH THE REPRODUCTION PARAMETERS OF THE BOTOSANI KARAKUL EWES

Abstract

The paper describes some associative aspects of various biochemical-genetic markers with the reproduction activity in ewes of the Botosani Karakul breed. The two most important reproduction parameters (fecundity and prolificacy) were analyzed according to the genotypes or phenotypes of polymorph systems (haemoglobin, transferrin, albumin and blood potassium) of females. The relationship between reproduction data and genetic markers in ewes was quantified both for each genotype (phenotype) and for each mating couple type made up depending on the genotype (phenotype) of the couple partners (homozygous x homozygous, homozygous x heterozygous or heterozygous x heterozygous). All these associative aspects and their results are discussed for each polymorph genetic system. The ewes which are heterozygous at different genetic marker loci are more fertile and more prolific than the ewes which are homozygous at the levels of these loci. The highest conception and lambing rates resulted from the mating couples in which both partners were heterozygous and the least lambs were obtained from the mating couples in which both partners were homozygous; the fertility and prolificacy had intermediate values in heterogeneous mating couples (heterozygotes x homozygotes) but they were nearer to the case in which both mating couple partners were heterozygous. The sheep breeding field can benefit by the contribution of biochemical-genetic markers to optimize the selection criteria with a view to increasing the reproduction capacity of this species.

Keywords

• genetic markers
• reproduction
• sheep