| Description |
To explore the genetic mechanisms underlying the litter size, we conducted multiple independent genome-wide association studies in five sheep breeds of high prolificacy (Wadi, Hu, Icelandic, Finnsheep and Romanov) and one low prolificacy (Texel) using the Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip, respectively. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the prolificacy trait in sheep and other mammals, suggesting targets for selection where the aim is to increase prolificacy in breeding projects. |
