Analysis of Quantitative Trait Loci for Wool Traits in Baluchi Sheep

Regions on three ovine chromosomes (OAR1, OAR5 and OAR25) were selected to study quantitative trait loci (QTL) segregating for wool traits in Baluchi sheep. A total of 503 progeny from 13 half-sib families were genotyped for 15 microsatellite markers. The average number of progeny per sire was 38 and ranged between 16 and 59. Data were collected from Research Centre on Baluchi breed in 2009 and 2010. A total of 14 wool traits were analyzed and phenotypes were corrected for fixed effects of birth year, sex, flock, litter size and shearing date (year and season). The QTL analyses were performed using regression-based interval mapping with two model of one-QTL and two-QTL model. The results revealed 6 QTL on OAR1 for fiber type traits (hetero-type True and Kemp fibers type percent in fleece), coefficient of variation of fiber diameter and greasy and clean fleece weight, two QTL on OAR5 for clean fleece weight and hetero-type wool and 7 QTL on OAR25 for fiber type traits (HET, KEMP and TRUE), greasy and clean fleece weight, coefficient of variation of average fiber diameter and the percent of fiber diameter with 40 to 50 µm.