TGF-B Super Family Correlation with the Fertility of Iraqi Awassi Ewes

Abstract

This study was conducted in Barakat Abu al Fadhl Al- Abbas station (AS) for raising sheep/a subsidiary of Al- Kafeel Company for General Investment and livestock services in Holy Karbala province and Babylon Province It was undertaken on Awassi sheep for between October, 2013 to May, 2014 to investigate the polymorphism of TGF-B gene and its association with reproductive traits of Awassi sheep. Blood samples were collected from (80) ewes included 35 samples of Awassi ewes producing twins (pure breed), 21 samples of Awassi ewes producing twins lambs (hybrid breed), also 25 samples of Awassi ewes producing single lambs (pure breed), with age (2 .5- 5) years. DNA samples were extracted from each blood sample of sheep. Reference PCR primers were utilized to amplify segments in TGF-B Super Family gene. Then, AFLP technique was performed for each PCR fragment. The results indicated that two genotypes for each of the fragments of TGF-B Super Family gene (AF and FF) were identified. TGF-B Super Family gene revealed two fragments (156 and 245 bp) for FF genotypes and three fragments (156, 254 and 410 bp) for AF genotypes. PCR- AFLP methods detected two genotypes (AF and FF) with predominant of AF genotype in Awassi ewes producing twin, and this study refers to utilizing TGF-B gene as good genetic markers and their correlation with high fertility and twins producing Awassi sheep.