Estimation of genetic diversity in Bentheimer Landsheep using microsatellites as a tool for breeding decisions

The Bentheimer Landsschaf is a German autochthonous breed whose purpose in former days was to maintain heath and marshland in Northern Germany. With advancement in sheep breeding and changing consumer requirements this old breed could not fulfill the demands concerning wool quality and meat quantity any longer. So in 1970 only three pedigree breeders existed and as a consequence rams from other breeds had to be used to maintain the Bentheimer Landschaf. The bottleneck resulted in a loss of genetic diversity. In this study the genetic diversity of the current Bentheimer Landschaf population has been investigated using the nine microsatellites BM8125, OarFCB128, OarAE129, BM1329, OarCP38, OarCP34, HUJ616, OarVH72 and DYMS1 in 140 preferably unrelated animals from nine flocks in Germany. Additionally the genetic distances to other breeds (Rhönschaf, Weißes und Braunes Bergschaf, Schoonebeeker Schaf, Drenthe Heideschaf and Graue Gehörnte Heidschnucke) have been calculated. All microsatellites were polymorphic with a mean number of alleles in the Bentheimer Landschaf of 8.7 and an observed heterozygosity of 0.55. No differences between Nei’s minimum and Reynolds’ genetic distance measures have been observed. A low genetic distance between the Bentheimer Landschaf and the Dutch breeds Drenthe Heide- and Schoonebeeker Schaf has been demonstrated. The Bentheimer Landschaf showed largest distances to the Rhönschaf and the Weißes and Braunes Bergschaf. As conclusion from the results the Bentheimer Landschaf population still shows genetic diversity in terms of mean number of alleles but a reduced heterozygosity in comparison with other breeds. The present breeding situation for scrapie resistance could again lead the Bentheimer Landschaf to an endangerd situation because of low frequencies of the ARR-allele in the prion protein gene.

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