Analysis of major fecundity genes in autochthonous Laticauda and Bagnolese sheep breeds

• Laticauda and Bagnolese sheep are characterized by a high prolificacy rate.
• In sheep BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 are major genes for fecundity rate.
• Both breeds are not carrier of FecB, FecXG, FecXH, FecXI.
• 5 new SNP have been found in GDF9.
• In Bagnolese 1 SNP is associated with prolificacy rate.

Aim of this work was to analyze the fecundity genes BMPRIB (FecB allele), BMP15 (exon 2) and GDF9 (both exons) in two autochthonous sheep breeds, Laticauda and Bagnolese, reared in Campania region and characterized by a high prolificacy rate. Both breeds have an economic relevance due to the production of meat and milk. The analyses of fecundity genes ruled out the presence of the main alleles (FecB, FecXG, FecXH, FecXI), reported earlier to be associated with a high prolificacy rate in other breeds. Eleven SNPs were found in GDF9 exon 2, five of these for the first time, in particular at nt 531, 953 and 1203 in Bagnolese sheep and at nt 617 and 1358 in Laticauda sheep. In Bagnolese breed the association analysis of these SNPs with prolificacy rate showed a significantly higher value of litter size of GG individuals at nt 750 when compared with GA ewes.