Domestication and centuries of selective breeding have changed genomes of sheep breeds to respond to environmental challenges and human needs. The genomes of local breeds, therefore, are valuable sources of genomic variants to be used to understand mechanisms of response to adaptation and artificial selection. As a step toward this we performed a high-density genotyping and comprehensive scans for signatures of selection in the genomes from 15 local sheep breeds reared across Russia. Results demonstrated that the genomes of Russian sheep breeds contain multiple regions under putative selection. More than 50% of these regions matched with intervals identified in previous scans for selective sweeps in sheep genomes. These regions contain well-known candidate genes related to morphology, adaptation, and domestication (e.g., KITLG, KIT, MITF, and MC1R), wool quality and quantity (e.g., DSG@, DSC@, and KRT@), growth and feed intake (e.g., HOXA@, HOXC@, LCORL, NCAPG, LAP3, and CCSER1), reproduction (e.g., CMTM6, HTRA1, GNAQ, UBQLN1, and IFT88), and milk-related traits (e.g., ABCG2, SPP1, ACSS1, and ACSS2). In addition, multiple genes that are putatively related to environmental adaptations were top-ranked in selected intervals (e.g., EGFR, HSPH1, NMUR1, EDNRB, PRL, TSHR, and ADAMTS5). Moreover, we observed that multiple key genes involved in human hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies, and genetic disorders accompanied with an inability to feel pain and environmental temperatures, were top-ranked in multiple or individual sheep breeds from Russia pointing to a possible mechanism of adaptation to harsh climatic conditions. Our work represents the first comprehensive scan for signatures of selection in genomes of local sheep breeds from the Russian Federation of both European and Asian origins. We confirmed that the genomes of Russian sheep contain previously identified signatures of selection, demonstrating the robustness of our integrative approach. Multiple novel signatures of selection were found near genes which could be related to adaptation to the harsh environments of Russia. Our study forms a basis for future work on using Russian sheep genomes to spot specific genetic variants or haplotypes to be used in efforts on developing next-generation highly productive breeds, better suited to diverse Eurasian environments.

The Zabaikalskaya horse is an indigenous breed of horses from Siberia with diverse use. It is characterized by e durance and good adaptability to year-round herd maintenance in the harsh conditions of the Baikal steppes. To determine the genetic characteristics of the maternal lineage of the Zabaikalskaya horse breed based on mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms, we collected hair samples from 31 horses belonging to breeding farms in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Analysis of the 530 bp sequence of the mtDNA D-loop was performed using the maximum composite likelihood (MCL) model in combination with bootstrap analysis. When studying the polymorphism of the hypervariable region of the mtDNA D-loop in Zabaikalskaya horses, we identified 31 haplotypes representing 8 haplogroups: B, C, G, H, L, M, Q and R according to modern classification. The sequenced fragment of the D-loop from nucleotide position 15471 to 16000 contained 17 polymorphic sites, mainly represented by the A→G, G→A and T→C transitions. The haplogroups Q (25.81 %), B (19.35 %), G (16.13 %) and H (12.90 %) were prevailing in the mtDNA structure of this breed. Genetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome of the Zabaikalskaya horse revealed a high level of diversity of haplotypes and haplogroups, which are typical for the horse populations of Eurasia.

Herd horse breeding is a promising branch of productive livestock farming in Russia. On the territory of the Siberian-Far Eastern region, several breeds of horses of local importance have long been bred, perfectly adapted to the conditions of their breeding zone and in particular Transbaikal, Tuvan and Buryat breeds. The Trans-Baikal Territory is in fourth place in terms of the number of horses in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tyva is in fi fth place, and the Republic of Buryatia is in seventh place. The purpose of the research was to conduct a comparative assessment of some productive and reproductive traits of mares of different breeds of local importance under the conditions of Eastern Siberia. The results of a study of productive, conformation and constitutional features and reproductive traits of mares of these breeds have been presented in the article. It has been established that mares of Transbaikal and Buryat breeds have an advantage in live weight over Tuvan mares by 5,0 % (p < 0,001). Assessment of the morphometric features of the conformation indicates that the best indicators are mares of the Transbaikal breed, which are signifi cantly superior to mares of Tuvan breed in all assessed measurements (p < 0,01–0,001), and superior to mares of Buryat breed in oblique length of the body and chest girth (p < 0,001). According to body indices, mares of the evaluated breeds are characterized as animals with expressed meat forms and according to their values are closer to heavy breeds. It was found when assessing reproductive trait that mares of the compared breeds are characterized by high reproduction rates. For example, the percentage of foals varies between 93–95 %, the yield of foals per 100 mares is 93–95 %. Consequently, horses of local breeds bred under the conditions of Eastern Siberia are distinguished by fairly high productivity indicators, and in terms of reproductive traits they are characterized by high reproductive ability under conditions of year-round grazing.

Productive herd horse breeding in Transbaikal region is one of the traditional branches of animal husbandry. The problem of preserving and improving local (aboriginal) horse breeds in our country is extremely important for their eff ective economic use and maintaining the diversity of the original gene pool of farm animals. Therefore, line breeding is an important aspect of horse breeding. The purpose of the research was to study the reproductive ability and milk productivity of mares of diff erent lines of Argaley type of Transbaikal breed. Research was carried out at the APC “Plemzavod imeni Kalinina” in the Aginsky district of the Trans-Baikal Territory. The objects of the study were mares of Transbaikal breed of Argaley type of diff erent genealogical lines origin, the age of the mares was 8–9 years after 4–5 foalings. The conformation and constitutional features and live weight of mares depending on their genealogical lines origin have been presented in the article. The average fertility performance rate for mares of different lines was 93,7 %, with foaling being 98,8 %. The greatest live weight was in mares belonging to the line Argali. It exceeded the indicators of herdmates from the lines Premier, Chetkiy and Kagor by 20,0; 15,0, 10,0 kg, respectively. During 5 months of lactation, mares of the line Argali produced 1854,0 kg of milk with an average daily milk yield of 12,36 kg. Mares of the line Argali over 5 months of lactation were superior to herdmates of other lines in terms of milk yield by 459,0; 336,0 and 223,5 kg and average daily milk yield by 3,06, 2,24 and 1,49 kg, respectively. It has been established that the physicochemical composition and environmental safety of milk from mares of the different lines of Argaley type of Transbaikal breed indicate its fairly high nutritional value.

The article presents the results of multiyear research to create a new type of demi-coarse wool sheep of the Aginskaya breed in severe environmental conditions of the Trans-Baikal region. At present,...

ФГБНУ «ФНЦ пищевых систем им. В.М. Горбатова»