Domestication and Genetic Diversity Analysis of Several Sheep Breeds in China

Sheep is the main livestock species in northern China. Under diverse climatic conditions, a gene pool of local sheep resources is now forming. There are many sheep breeds in northern China, including local breeds and hybrid breeds. However, little is known about the genetic background and genetic variation of local sheep populations in northern China. Therefore, our aims is to provide a characterization of the population structure and genetic relationship within sheep breeds in northern China and to study its genetic relationship with other sheep breeds. We collected blood samples from 390 sheep for genetic diversity analysis using reduced-representation genome sequencing (RRGS). This study used bioinformatics methods to analyze linkage disequilibrium, population structure, evolutionary tree, selective sweep etc. The mixed model revealed in this study may be formed in the process of sheep breeding, partially overlapping with historical and archaeological findings. New information on the domestication and genetic variety of sheep is provided by this study, which will help sheep in the future be improved through genomics.