Genome-Wide Association Study of Milk Composition in Karachai Goats.

This study is first to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate the milk quality traits in Karachai goats. The objective of the study was to identify candidate genes associated with milk composition traits based on the identification and subsequent analysis of all possible SNPs, both genome-wide (high-confidence) and suggestive (subthreshold significance). To estimate the milk components, 22 traits were determined, including several types of fatty acids. DNA was extracted from ear tissue or blood samples. A total of 167 Karachai goats were genotyped using an Illumina GoatSNP53K BeadChip panel (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Overall, we identified 167 highly significant and subthreshold SNPs associated with the milk components of Karachai goats. A total of 10 SNPs were located within protein-coding genes and 33 SNPs in close proximity to them (±0.2 Mb). The largest number of genome-wide significant SNPs was found on chromosomes 2 and 8 and some of them were associated with several traits. The greatest number of genome-wide significant SNPs was identified for crude protein and lactose (6), and the smallest number-only 1 SNP-for freezing point depression. No SNPs were identified for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Functional annotation of all 43 SNPs allowed us to identify 66 significant candidate genes on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, and 27. We considered these genes potential DNA markers of the fatty acid composition of Karachai goat milk. Also, we found 12 genes that had a polygenic effect: most of them were simultaneously associated with the dry matter content and fatty acids (METTL, SLC1A 8, PHACTR1, FMO2, ECI1, PGP, ABCA3, AMDHD2). Our results suggest that the genes identified in our study affecting the milk components in Karachai goats differed from those identified in other breeds of dairy goats.

Genome-Wide Association and Pathway Analysis of Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Karachai Young Goats.

Goats with diverse economic phenotypic traits play an important role in animal husbandry. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying complex phenotypic traits are unclear in goats. Genomic studies of variations provided a lens to identify functional genes. The work aimed to search for candidate genes related to body measurements and body weight of Karachai goats and develop an experimental PCR-RV test system for genotyping significant SNPs. Comparison of GWAS results for ages 4 and 8 months revealed 58 common SNPs for significant genotypes. 11 common SNPs were identified for body weight, 4 SNPs-for group of traits withers height, rump height, body length, 2 SNPs-for withers height and rump height, 1 SNP-for body length and chest depth. Structural annotation of genomic regions covering a window of ±0.20 Mb showed the presence of 288 genes; 52 of them had the described functions in accordance with gene ontology. The main molecular functions of proteins encoded by these genes are the regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, body growth, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, nervous system development, and spermatogenesis. SNPs common to body weight and localized within a window of ±200 kb from the structural genes CRADD, HMGA2, MSRB3, FUT8, MAX, and RAB15 were selected to create a test system. The study of meat productivity after slaughter and chemical analysis of muscle tissue in Karachai goats at the age of 8 months of different genotypes according to the identified SNPs revealed that rs268269710 is the most promising for further research and use in breeding. The GG genotype is associated with a larger live weight of animals, a larger carcass yield, the content of the boneless part in it, and the ratio of protein and adipose tissue in meat preferred for dietary nutrition. These results will contribute to the genetic improvement of Karachai goats.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Russian Native Sheep Breeds Based on mtDNA Sequences.

Eurasia is represented by all climatic zones and various environments. A unique breed variety of farm animals has been developed in Russia, whose territory covers a large area of the continent. A total of 69 local breeds and types of dairy, wool, and meat sheep (Ovis aries) are maintained here. However, the genetic diversity and maternal origin of these local breeds have not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we describe the diversity and phylogeny of Russian sheep breeds inhabiting different geographical regions based on the analysis of complete sequences of mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA). Complete mtDNA sequences of the studied sheep were obtained using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS). All investigated geographical groups of sheep were characterized by high haplotype (Hd = 0.9992) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00378). Analysis of the AMOVA results showed that genetic diversity was majorly determined by within-population differences (77.87%). We identified 128 haplotypes in all studied sheep. Haplotypes belonged to the following haplogroups: B (64.8%), A (28.9%), C (5.5%), and D (0.8%). Haplogroup B was predominant in the western part of Russia. A high level of mtDNA polymorphism in the studied groups of local sheep indicates the presence of a significant reserve of unique genotypes in Russia, which is to be explored.

Cryopreservation and Transfer of Sheep Embryos Recovered at Different Stages of Development and Cryopreserved Using Different Techniques.

This article presents data from experiments to determine the cryoresistance of Charollais sheep embryos, depending on the stage of embryo development and the method of freezing, as well as the results of embryo transfer. The study design consisted of a study on the cryopreservation of ewe embryos at different developmental stages (early, 2-8 blastomeric and late, at the morula/blastocyst stage), two cryopreservation protocols (slow freezing and ultra-fast vitrification), and embryo transfer of cryo- and fresh embryos. Embryos from Charollais sheep donors (n = 12) were recovered after induction of superovulation. The embryos were recovered surgically (laparotomy) on days 2 and 6 after insemination. Before there was transfer to recipients, part of embryos was cryopreserved using standard slow freezing and ultra-fast vitrification methods. The average ovarian response was 7.54 ovulations per donor, and 5.83 embryos per donor were collected. No effect of the cryopreservation method and embryo development stage on the preservation of the morphological structure of embryos was found. There were no significant differences in the survival rate of cryoembryos at different development stages, frozen using different techniques, and after transfer to recipients. Differences in cryoresistance between embryonic developmental stages in favor of the morula/blastocyst stage were found (survival after thawing 86.4% vs. 75.0% in early embryos). At different stages of development, the survival rate of fresh embryos (45.8%) compared to cryopreserved ones (30.2%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while among fresh ones, the best survival rate (50.0%) was observed after the transfer of morules and blastocysts.

Embryo production and transplantation in non-breeding season of meat sheep breeds by stimulating superovulation with different follicle-stimulating hormone preparations.

The objective of this study was to investigate the response of Charolais and Ile-de-France meat sheep breeds to stimulate superovulation with various follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations. A total of 14 adult ewes of meat sheep breeds were used in our study as donors, including Charolais breed (n = 8) and Ile-de-France breed (n = 6). Donors ewes were randomly divided into two groups in equal numbers (first group, n = 7; second group, n = 7), every group included Charolais breed (n = 4) and Ile-de-France breed (n = 3). Ewes in the first group were treated with Folltropin-V (total dose of 200 mg per ewe, seven injections), and ewes in the second group were treated with FSH-P (total of 280 IU per ewe, six injections). Thirty-seven ewes of Edilbay breed used as recipients were divided into two groups (first group, n = 20; second group, n = 17). Our results showed that the number of corpora lutea in donor groups treated with Folltropin-V was significantly higher than in donor groups treated with FSH-P (p < .01). A greater number of embryos recovery and embryos suitable for transplantation were found in the first group compared with the second group of donors. After 30 days from transplantation, transabdominal ultrasonography showed that the presence of pregnancy in recipients groups was found in 16 recipient ewes (43.2%), in the first group of recipients were registered nine pregnant ewes of 20 recipient ewes (45.0%), and in the second group of recipients were registered seven pregnant ewes of 17 recipient ewes (41.2%). In conclusion, using Folltropin-V in Charolais and Ile-de-France meat sheep breeds is a more effective scheme for stimulating superovulation than using FSH-P.

Identification of Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Associated with Body Weight and Body Conformation Traits in Karachai Goats.

The objective of this study was to identify the SNPs and candidate genes related to body weight and seven body conformation traits at the age of 8 months in the Russian aboriginal Karachai goats (n = 269) by conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS), using genotypes generated by Goat SNP BeadChip (Illumina Inc., USA). We identified 241 SNPs, which were significantly associated with the studied traits, including 47 genome-wide SNPs (p < 10−5) and 194 suggestive SNPs (p < 10−4), distributed among all goat autosomes except for autosome 23. Fifty-six SNPs were common for two and more traits (1 SNP for six traits, 2 SNPs for five traits, 12 SNPs for four traits, 20 SNPs for three traits, and 21 SNPs for two traits), while 185 SNPs were associated with single traits. Structural annotation within a window of 0.4 Mb (±0.2 Mb from causal SNPs) revealed 238 candidate genes. The largest number of candidate genes was identified at Chr13 (33 candidate genes for the five traits). The genes identified in our study were previously reported to be associated with growth-related traits in different livestock species. The most significant genes for body weight were CRADD, HMGA2, MSRB3, MAX, HACL1 and RAB15, which regulate growth processes, body sizes, fat deposition, and average daily gains. Among them, the HMGA2 gene is a well-known candidate for prenatal and early postnatal development, and the MSRB3 gene is proposed as a candidate gene affecting the growth performance. APOB, PTPRK, BCAR1, AOAH and ASAH1 genes associated with withers height, rump height and body length, are involved in various metabolic processes, including fatty acid metabolism and lipopolysaccharide catabolism. In addition, WDR70, ZBTB24, ADIPOQ, and SORCS3 genes were linked to chest width. KCNG4 was associated with rump height, body length and chest perimeter. The identified candidate genes can be proposed as molecular markers for growth trait selection for genetic improvement in Karachai goats.

Seasonal changes in testis size, testosterone levels and sperm production quality in meat rams.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate seasonal changes in testes size, serum testosterone (T) levels and sperm production characteristics of 24 adult (2-3 years old) rams of meat breeds: Charollais (n = 6), Ile de France (n = 6), Dorset (Polled) (n = 5) and Dorper (Dorper, n = 7). Semen was collected with artificial vagina using a female in spontaneous oestrus (September-November, breeding season, BS) or a female with induced oestrus (March-July, non-breeding season, NBS). A total of 672 ejaculates were examined. Jugular vein blood was collected to determine testosterone levels during BS and NBS, and serum was extracted. Results of the present study indicate that there was no significant change in parameters such as body weight (kg) and testes length, both right and left, during BS and NBS, irrespective of the breed. The remaining metrics of testes differ in varying degrees between breeds of rams (with the exception of the Dorper breed) between BS and NBS. No significant variation in these parameters was found in Dorper rams. For all breeds, season had a statistically significant effect on important parameters such as total sperm count and progressive sperm motility after thawing. There was also significant seasonal variation in ejaculate volume across the three breeds, excluding il-de-France rams. The most constant was the sperm concentration, which was unchanged in BS and NBS in the three breeds, excluding Dorset rams, which showed a slightly significant decrease in this indicator in the non-breeding season. The serum content of the major male hormone testosterone (T) in rams of all breeds showed significant changes between BS and NBS, decreasing by a highly significant amount in the non-breeding season.

SNP-Based Genotyping Provides Insight Into the West Asian Origin of Russian Local Goats.

Specific local environmental and sociocultural conditions have led to the creation of various goat populations in Russia. National goat diversity includes breeds that have been selected for down and mohair production traits as well as versatile local breeds for which pastoralism is the main management system. Effective preservation and breeding programs for local goat breeds are missing due to the lack of DNA-based data. In this work, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of Russian local goats, including Altai Mountain, Altai White Downy, Dagestan Downy, Dagestan Local, Karachaev, Orenburg, and Soviet Mohair goats, which were genotyped with the Illumina Goat SNP50 BeadChip. In addition, we addressed genetic relationships between local and global goat populations obtained from the AdaptMap project. Russian goats showed a high level of genetic diversity. Although a decrease in historical effective population sizes was revealed, the recent effective population sizes estimated for three generations ago were larger than 100 in all studied populations. The mean runs of homozygosity (ROH) lengths ranged from 79.42 to 183.94 Mb, and the average ROH number varied from 18 to 41. Short ROH segments (<2 Mb) were predominant in all breeds, while the longest ROH class (>16 Mb) was the least frequent. Principal component analysis, Neighbor-Net graph, and Admixture clustering revealed several patterns in Russian local goats. First, a separation of the Karachaev breed from other populations was observed. Moreover, genetic connections between the Orenburg and Altai Mountain breeds were suggested and the Dagestan breeds were found to be admixed with the Soviet Mohair breed. Neighbor-Net analysis and clustering of local and global breeds demonstrated the close genetic relations between Russian local and Turkish breeds that probably resulted from past admixture events through postdomestication routes. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the genetic relationships of goats originating in West Asia and Eurasia and may be used to design breeding programs for local goats to ensure their effective conservation and proper management.

Maternal Origins and Haplotype Diversity of Seven Russian Goat Populations Based on the D-loop Sequence Variability.

The territory of modern Russia lies on the crossroads of East and West and covers various geographical environments where diverse groups of local goats originated. In this work, we present the first study on the maternal origin of Russian local goats, including Altai Mountain (n = 9), Dagestan Downy (n = 18), Dagestan Local (n = 12), Dagestan Milk (n = 15), Karachaev (n = 21), Orenburg (n = 10), and Soviet Mohair (n = 7) breeds, based on 715 bp D-loop mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. Saanen goats (n = 5) were used for comparison. Our findings reveal a high haplotype (HD = 0.843-1.000) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0112-0.0261). A total of 59 haplotypes were determined in the Russian goat breeds, in which all differed from the haplotypes of the Saanen goats. The haplotypes identified in Altai Mountain, Orenburg, Soviet Mohair, and Saanen goats were breed specific. Most haplotypes (56 of 59) were clustered together with samples belonging to haplogroup A, which was in accordance with the global genetic pattern of maternal origin seen in most goats worldwide. The haplotypes that were grouped together with rare haplogroups D and G were found in the Altai Mountain breed and haplogroup C was detected in the Soviet Mohair breed. Thus, our findings revealed that local goats might have been brought to Russia via various migration routes. In addition, haplotype sharing was found in aboriginal goat populations from overlapping regions, which might be useful information for their official recognition status.

High-density genotyping reveals signatures of selection related to acclimation and economically important traits in 15 local sheep breeds from Russia.

BACKGROUND: Domestication and centuries of selective breeding have changed genomes of sheep breeds to respond to environmental challenges and human needs. The genomes of local breeds, therefore, are valuable sources of genomic variants to be used to understand mechanisms of response to adaptation and artificial selection. As a step toward this we performed a high-density genotyping and comprehensive scans for signatures of selection in the genomes from 15 local sheep breeds reared across Russia. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that the genomes of Russian sheep breeds contain multiple regions under putative selection. More than 50% of these regions matched with intervals identified in previous scans for selective sweeps in sheep genomes. These regions contain well-known candidate genes related to morphology, adaptation, and domestication (e.g., KITLG, KIT, MITF, and MC1R), wool quality and quantity (e.g., DSG@, DSC@, and KRT@), growth and feed intake (e.g., HOXA@, HOXC@, LCORL, NCAPG, LAP3, and CCSER1), reproduction (e.g., CMTM6, HTRA1, GNAQ, UBQLN1, and IFT88), and milk-related traits (e.g., ABCG2, SPP1, ACSS1, and ACSS2). In addition, multiple genes that are putatively related to environmental adaptations were top-ranked in selected intervals (e.g., EGFR, HSPH1, NMUR1, EDNRB, PRL, TSHR, and ADAMTS5). Moreover, we observed that multiple key genes involved in human hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies, and genetic disorders accompanied with an inability to feel pain and environmental temperatures, were top-ranked in multiple or individual sheep breeds from Russia pointing to a possible mechanism of adaptation to harsh climatic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our work represents the first comprehensive scan for signatures of selection in genomes of local sheep breeds from the Russian Federation of both European and Asian origins. We confirmed that the genomes of Russian sheep contain previously identified signatures of selection, demonstrating the robustness of our integrative approach. Multiple novel signatures of selection were found near genes which could be related to adaptation to the harsh environments of Russia. Our study forms a basis for future work on using Russian sheep genomes to spot specific genetic variants or haplotypes to be used in efforts on developing next-generation highly productive breeds, better suited to diverse Eurasian environments.

Population structure and genetic diversity of 25 Russian sheep breeds based on whole-genome genotyping.

BACKGROUND: Russia has a diverse variety of native and locally developed sheep breeds with coarse, fine, and semi-fine wool, which inhabit different climate zones and landscapes that range from hot deserts to harsh northern areas. To date, no genome-wide information has been used to investigate the history and genetic characteristics of the extant local Russian sheep populations. To infer the population structure and genome-wide diversity of Russian sheep, 25 local breeds were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 BeadChip. Furthermore, to evaluate admixture contributions from foreign breeds in Russian sheep, a set of 58 worldwide breeds from publicly available genotypes was added to our data. RESULTS: We recorded similar observed heterozygosity (0.354-0.395) and allelic richness (1.890-1.955) levels across the analyzed breeds and they are comparable with those observed in the worldwide breeds. Recent effective population sizes estimated from linkage disequilibrium five generations ago ranged from 65 to 543. Multi-dimensional scaling, admixture, and neighbor-net analyses consistently identified a two-step subdivision of the Russian local sheep breeds. A first split clustered the Russian sheep populations according to their wool type (fine wool, semi-fine wool and coarse wool). The Dagestan Mountain and Baikal fine-fleeced breeds differ from the other Merino-derived local breeds. The semi-fine wool cluster combined a breed of Romanian origin, Tsigai, with its derivative Altai Mountain, the two Romney-introgressed breeds Kuibyshev and North Caucasian, and the Lincoln-introgressed Russian longhaired breed. The coarse-wool group comprised the Nordic short-tailed Romanov, the long-fat-tailed outlier Kuchugur and two clusters of fat-tailed sheep: the Caucasian Mountain breeds and the Buubei, Karakul, Edilbai, Kalmyk and Tuva breeds. The Russian fat-tailed breeds shared co-ancestry with sheep from China and Southwestern Asia (Iran). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we derived the genetic characteristics of the major Russian local sheep breeds, which are moderately diverse and have a strong population structure. Pooling our data with a worldwide genotyping set gave deeper insight into the history and origin of the Russian sheep populations.

Correlation between gene expression profiles in muscle and live weight in dzhalginsky merino sheep / Correlación entre los perfiles de expresión génica en músculo y peso vivo de ovejas Dzhalginsky Merino / Correlação entre perfis de expressão gênica no músculo e peso vivo de ovinos Dzhalginsky Merino

Summary Background: marker assisted selection methods of sheep require the identification of genes that positively and negatively affect meat quality. Genes with high expression levels could have the greatest impact on growth and structure of muscle fibers. Objective: this study evaluated the expression of genes in the loin muscle of Dzhalginsky Merino sheep. Methods: reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to investigate the expression of 48 genes in the loin muscle of Dzhalginsky Merino sheep bred in Russia. Results: genes GAPDH, PYGM, CAST, ATP5G1, CAPN3, SOD1, VEGFA, CALM2, YWHAZ, ASIP,MYOD1, CAPN1, GHR, OXTR, BEGAIN, SLC2A3, and SS18L2 showed the highest expression. The group of genes with a medium level of expression included ATOX1, BAMBI, TLR6, IGF2, FOS, FST, GGTA2P, C-MET, FGF5, ACVR2A, CAPN2, GH, DGAT1, and IGF1. Low levels of expression were identified for genes ABCG2, SPP2, PYGL, PPARG2, TGFB1, CXCR4, MSTN, CYP2J, LEPR, CDKN1A, IGFBP4, and SERT. Trace expression was detected in genes SST, TSHR, GDF9, FGF7 and BMP15. Significant correlation between expression level and live weight was observed for most of the investigated genes. Conclusion: our results demonstrate the feasibility of using these newly identified candidate genes as genetic markers in sheep.

Resumen Antecedentes: los métodos de selección asistida de ovejas a través de marcadores requieren la identificación de los genes que afectan positiva o negativamente la calidad de la carne. Los genes con niveles más altos de expresión podrían tener mayor impacto en el crecimiento y estructura de las fibras musculares. Objetivo: evaluar la expresión de los genes en el músculo del lomo de carneros de la raza Dzhalginsky Merino. Métodos: se utilizó RT-PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real (RT-qPCR) para investigar la expresión de 48 genes en el músculo del lomo de ovejos raza Merino Dzhalginsky criados en Rusia. Resultados: los genes GAPDH, PYGM, CAST, ATP5G1, CAPN3, SOD1, VEGFa, CALM2, YWHAZ, ASIP, MYOD1, CAPN1, GHR, OXTR, BEGAIN,SLC2A3 y SS18L2 mostraron la más alta expresión. El grupo de genes con un nivel medio de expresión incluyó ATOX1, BAMBI, TLR6, IGF2, FOS, FST, GGTA2P, C-MET, FGF5, ACVR2A, CAPN2, GH, DGAT1 y IGF1. Se identificaron bajos niveles de expresión en los genes ABCG2, SPP2, PYGL, PPARG2, TGFB1, CXCR4, NTCR, CYP2J, LEPR, CDKN1A, IGFBP4 y SERT. Expresión traza fue detectada en los genes SST, TSHR, GDF9, FGF7 y BMP15. Para la mayoría de los genes investigados hubo una correlación significativa entre el nivel de expresión y el peso vivo de los carneros. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran la factibilidad del uso de estos genes candidatos identificados recientemente como marcadores genéticos en ovejas.

Resumo Antecedentes: métodos que utilizam marcadores de seleção assistida em ovelhas exigem a identificação de novos genes que afetam a qualidade da carne. Genes com maiores níveis de expressão podem ter maior impacto sobre o crescimento e a estrutura das fibras músculares. Objetivo: avaliar a expressão de genes no músculo lombar de ovinos da raça Merino Dzhalginsky. Métodos: foi utilizada a reação em cadeia da polimerase-transcriptase reversa e em tempo real (RT-qPCR) para investigar a expressão de 48 genes em músculo do lombo da raça de ovinos Merino Dzhalginsky, que foram criados na Rússia. Resultados: os genes GAPDH, PYGM, CAST, ATP5G1, CAPN3, SOD1, VEGFA, CALM2, YWHAZ, ASIP, MYOD1, CAPN1, GHR,OXTR, BEGAIN, SLC2A3 e SS18L2 apresentaram a maior expressão. O grupo de genes com um nível médio de expressão incluíram ATOX1, BAMBI, TLR6, IGF2, FOS, FST, GGTA2P, C-MET, FGF5, ACVR2A, CAPN2,GH, DGAT1 e IGF1. Foram identificados baixos níveis de expressão para os genes ABCG2, SPP2, PYGL, PPARG2, TGFB1, CXCR4, MSTN, CYP2J, LEPR, CDKN1A, IGFBP4 e SERT. Foi detectado rastreamento de expressão nos genes SST, TSHR, GDF9, FGF7 e BMP15. Para a maioria dos genes investigados, houve uma correlação significativa entre o nível de expressão e o peso vivo dos carneiros Dzhalginsky Merino. Conclusão: os resultados demonstram a viabilidade do uso desses genes candidatos recentemente identificados como marcadores genéticos no desenvolvimento de novas raças de ovinos.

Associations Between Newly Discovered Polymorphisms of the CEBPD GENE LOCUS and Body Parameters in Sheep.

An understanding of what effects particular genes can have on body parameters in productive animals is particularly significant for the process of marker-assisted selection. The gene of transcriptional factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta (CEBPD gene) is involved in the process of growth in animals and is known to be a promising candidate for use as a genomic marker. The structure of the CEBPD gene locus was determined using NimbleGen sequencing technology (Roche, USA). The effect of polymorphisms, which were identified using the aforementioned technology, was investigated in 30 rams of the Manych Merino sheep breed. Twenty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were detected in the CEBPD gene locus. Significantly, two SNPs, namely, g.315T>G and g.327C>T, have been identified for the first time. It was demonstrated that the complex of linked SNPs, consisting of g.301A>T, g.426T>C, and g.1226T>C, had a negligible effect on body parameters in Manych Merino sheep. Animals with the heterozygous type of SNP g.1142C>T exhibited changes solely in the chest and croup width. The newly discovered SNP g.327C>T was proven to have a negative effect on live weight and body size (p < 0.05) in Manych Merino sheep. Sheep with the heterozygous type of g.562G>A and g.3112C>G SNP complex showed an increase in live weight and dimensions (p < 0.05) compared with those of wild homozygous type. Consequently, SNPs g.327C>T, g.562G>A, and g.3112C>G in the CEBPD gene locus can be successfully used as markers in sheep breeding. Future research will evaluate the influence of the aforementioned SNPs on slaughter indicators for sheep meat production.