Research Article

Identification of FecX^O mutation in the BMP15 gene in prolific Olkuska sheep

Mirosław Kucharski, Urszula Kaczor, Andrzej Kaczor

¹ University of Agriculture in Kraków, Poland 2 National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice n. Kraków, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 14(4), 2015, 93‒100

Abstract. Abstract: The A1009C (N69H) mutation at the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) gene locus located on the X chromosome, which is considered a major gene, contributes to an increase in the number of lambs per litter. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of A1009C polymorphism at the BMP15 gene locus in prolific Olkuska ewes from two flocks originating from southern Poland. Flocks with a similar ewe prolificacy of 2.21 and 2.54 lambs/litter were found to differ in the frequency of animals with CC and AA homozygous genotypes. In the simulated matings of the ewes over 3 years with a ram carrying the mutation, frequency of the CC (FecX^O/FecX^O) genotype increased by around 14 percentage units without increasing the number of heterozygous animals. It should be stressed that the rams carrying the FecX^O mutation, due to location of the BMP15 gene on the X chromosome, will give the valuable gene to every daughter. When choosing breeding rams for their flocks, breeders of Olkuska sheep should identify their genotype at the BMP15 locus.

Keywords: BMP15 gene, FecX^O, polymorphism, prolific Olkuska sheep