A putative autosomal gene increasing ovulation rate in Romney sheep

Ovulation rates were measured in 547 progeny of 24 rams in a Romney flock with a long history of high prolificacy. These sheep were from the same family line and the distribution of ovulation rates suggests the presence of a segregating major gene (FecW) that increases prolificacy. The phenotype differs from those previously described for major genes affecting prolificacy in sheep. The putative gene shows autosomal inheritance and one copy increases ovulation rate by 0.8-1.0 eggs per ewe ovulating. To date, we have found no evidence of infertility among putative homozygous ewes, as described in some autosomal major genes for prolificacy.