Development of a High-Yield Genetic Strain from Endogenous Iranian Sheep

Development of a High-Yield Genetic Strain from Endogenous Iranian Sheep

The faculty members of the Systems Biology Department at the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute have successfully developed a new genetic strain of dual-purpose meat-reproductive rams using molecular breeding techniques. The new sheep strain is characterized by high productivity and adaptability to local Iranian conditions, utilizing major genes that control the myostatin hyper-muscularity and Booroola prolificacy traits. The functional characteristics of this genetic strain include an increase in carcass efficiency from 50% to 55%, modification of the physicochemical properties of the meat such as reduced pH and increased tenderness, reduction of fat-tail size to less than 1 kg, decrease in back fat thickness from 3 cm to 1 cm, enlargement of the loin eye muscle area, presence of marbling in the loin muscle area, and increase litter size from 12% to 54%. The morphological features of the developed genetic strain include a wooly fleece of white color that is suitable for the textile industry, a semi-fat tail, protrusions in the rump and thigh muscles, and a shorter stature compared to the native breed. In addition to the transfer of technical knowledge, the developed genetic strain can be offered to the private sector as live animals (rams and ewes) and genetic materials (sperm, oocytes, embryos).

For more information, please email PRpr@abrii.ac.ir