Characterization of Dammani Sheep using FAO recommended SSR markers

It is the need of the day to introduce strategies towards conservation of genetic resources of livestock in several of its forms. Information gathered there of from various sources viz socio-economic knowledge, indigenous understanding and circumstances, production system, phenotypic, genotypic and molecular studies can be utilized in a fruitful and productive manner to support and hold up steps for conservation strategies. Morphological and genetic characterization of native sheep breeds is of immense importance that is achievable by understanding and investigating the genetic associations among population through analysis of allele frequencies at different loci. For this purpose a number of genetic markers are frequently applied like VNTRs, SNP and SSR. SSR markers can be used to get hold of expert results for investigating the structure and composition of a specific population. Because of features like neutrality, high polymorphism, co-dominance and uniform dispersal at genomic level, microsatellites are frequently applied in various species for genetic characterization. Microsatellites (SSR) are exceedingly variable loci which make available adequate genetic information.