Twinning in Marwari and Bharat Merino ewes and its relationship with Booroola FecB mutation

The Booroola fecundity (FecB) is a single autosomal gene, which increases ovulation rate and litter size in sheep. High prolificacy in Garole and Booroola Merino sheep is due to a mutation in FecB gene, and by its virtue they produce twin or more lambs. The FecB genotyping was carried out by Forced RFLP-PCR technique in prolific Garole, non-prolific Marwari and Bharat Merino ewes with the aim to confirm linkage of twinning with FecB mutation. Garole ewes were selected which had at least one record of twins, triplets or more lambs. Marwari and Bharat Merino ewes were selected into two groups, one group had at least one record of twin and other group had only single lamb. Results showed that FecB mutation was associated with twinning/high litter size in Garole ewes, while all Marwari and Bharat Merino ewes were found non-carriers (FecB ++ ) for FecB mutation. The present study indicates that twinning in Marwari and Bharat Merino ewes is not linked with FecB mutation, and it may be due to various other extrinsic reasons, including environmental factors or other unknown genes.

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