Genome-Wide SNP Characterisation of Three Kazakh Sheep Breeds: Kazakh Fat-Tailed Coarse-Wool, Degeres, and Etti Merino

Abstract

Simple Summary Kazakhstan relies heavily on sheep farming for meat and wool, but several of its major breeds have never been studied at the DNA level. This study looked at three economically important breeds—Degeres, Etti Merino, and Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool—using genetic markers spread across the genome in nearly 1500 animals from seven farms. The results show that Etti Merino, despite being raised in Kazakhstan for over a decade, still carries the genetic signature of its Merino ancestors and resembles Merino and Merino-derived sheep more than it resembles neighbouring Asian breeds. Degeres, by contrast, shows signs of still being assembled as a breed, consistent with its known history of crossing multiple breeds together. All three breeds carry high genetic diversity, with almost all of the genetic variation found within each breed rather than between them, meaning none shows signs of inbreeding or genetic bottlenecks. These findings give breeders and policymakers a genomic baseline for managing and conserving these breeds as three genetically distinct populations.