Evaluation of the possibility to breed for resistance to the maedi visna virus in the breed Rauwolliges Pommersches Landschaft (Evaluierung der Möglichkeit zur Zucht auf Resistenz gegenüber dem Maedi-Visna-Virus)

Project

Project code: 2822OE140
Contract period: 01.06.2023 - 31.05.2024
Budget: 33,575 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: biological diversity, genetic resources, small ruminants, landscape/landscape preservation, resistance, sheep, animal genetic resources, virology, organic farming

Within the framework of this project, the question is to be answered whether it is possible to breed specifically for resistance to the infection and possibly also diseases caused by the maedi visna virus (MVV) in the sheep breed Rauwolliges Pommersches Landschaf by determining the genotypes at position 35 in the TMEM154 gene and subsequently eliminating them by breeding. In the case of farms willing to carry out these tests, serological and clinical examinations of the sheep should be used to determine whether the herds and individuals concerned are infected with MVV and are clinically ill. The aim is to clarify the extent to which a relationship between the resistance gene and the serological or clinical status can also be established in the breed Rauwolliges Pommersches Landschaf. However, a possible breeding for resistance to MVV should be controlled in such a way that the highest possible genetic diversity remains present in the population, in particular all 8 currently still existing buck lines, provided that they are genetically distinct groups. Therefore, the genetic diversity of the breed Rauwolliges Pommersches Landschaf will be analyzed using genomic data in the context of a possible selection for the allele TMEM154 K. The results should serve the breeders of this breed as a decision-making aid for a future breeding strategy for maedi visna resistance while maintaining genetic diversity. This procedure can also be transferred to other sheep breeds.

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