Diversity of indigenous sheep of an isolated population.

BACKGROUND: Because of the influence of genetics on animal production and the risk of losing genetic diversity of naturally adapted breeds, this study evaluated the genetic diversity of sheep of the Morada Nova breed belonging to an animal science institute in Brazil. The herd in question is one of the country's most representative of the breed. Samples of DNA extracted from the plasma of 61 animals were used for later analysis of the genotypes using microsatellite molecular markers. RESULTS: The polymorphic information content was 0.66, the observed heterozygosity was 0.65 and the fixation index was 0.048. According to the results, there is moderate genetic diversity in the studied population, suggesting the implantation of breeding programs aimed at conservation of the observed genetic diversity. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study will be of great importance to decisions on herd structure, besides contributing to other work to be carried out at the research center.

Morphometric indices in Santa Ines sheep / Índices morfométricos en ovejas Santa Ines

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of period of the year, year of the birth, sex and age on morphometric indices, such as body capacity, body indices, body side indice, anamorphosis indice, compactness indice and body proportionality indice. The correlation between these characteristics was calculated. Santa Ines sheep offspring from the birth to 12 months-old, at the Estado do Rio de Janeiro were used. Measurements were obtained from animals under an extensive scheme within three years of study totaling 2,601 observations. In this work, the year of birth, sex, animal age and triple interaction between these effects have influenced (P<0.05) morphometric indices. According to body and compactness indices averages also was verified that the animals tended for a more compact conformation. Males were higher than females in all measurements and weight. Correlations between all measures were high and positive. The studied animals show a longilinear conformation, tending to compact.

Los efectos de la estación, año de nacimiento, edad y sexo sobre índices morfométricos como: capacidad del cuerpo, índice corporal, índice del cuerpo, índice de anamorfosis, índice de compacidad y índice de proporcionalidad corporal fueron evaluados y fueran estimadas las correlaciones entre ellos. Se utilizaron ovejas Santa Inés desde el nacimiento hasta los 12 meses de edad, criadas en el norte del Estado de Río de Janeiro. Las evaluaciones fueron realizadas durante un período de tres años, totalizando 2.601 observaciones. El año de nacimiento, el sexo, la edad del animal y la interacción entre ellos tuvo efectos (P<0,05) sobre los índices estudiados. A partir de las medidas corporales y de los niveles de compacidad se observó que los animales tienden a presentar conformación más compacta. Las correlaciones entre las medidas fueron altas y positivas. Los animales estudiados muestran una conformación longilínea, tendiendo a compacto.