Immunogenetic Characteristics of Trans-Baikal Different-Purpose Sheep

Abstract

The results of the immunogenetic characteristics of Trans-Baikal breed fine-fleece sheep by six blood group systems, including fourteen antigen-specific factors, with respect to the production purposes have been reported. The performed analysis of the immunogenetic parameters of blood revealed similarity in the Bb, Bg, Ca, R, and O antigen-specific factors and remarkable differentiation in the Aa, Ab, Be, and Bi antigens between the wool-and-meat and meat-and-wool sheep. High frequencies of the Bb (0.980), Bi (0.873), Ca (0.932), Ma (0.555), R (0.538), and O (0.910) red blood-cell antigens are typical for the wool-and-meat sheep. The animals with antigens Bd, Be, Bg, and Mb (0.150, 0.278, 0.190, and 0.228, respectively) are rarely found. High concentrations of antigens Bb, Be, Ca, Ma, R, O, and Da (0.960, 0.743, 0.782, 0.812, 0.554, 0.713, and 0.505, respectively) are recorded in meat-and-wool sheep. Low frequencies in occurrence are recorded in the animal carriers of Aa (0.119), Ab (0.109), Bd (0.089), Bi (0.109), Bg (0.129), and Mb (0.149). The Aa, Ab, Bi, Ca, and O antigens are rather often found in the wool-and-meat sheep (P < 0.001), while the meat-and-wool sheep have higher concentrations of Be, Ma, and Da factors (P < 0.001). The genetic identity and distance between the intrabreed specimens comprised 0.652 and 0.428, respectively.