Characterisation of the Sand sheep, an inclusion breed variant of the Yellow-faced Berke in Hungary, based on mtDNA control region sequencing

Abstract

Very little research has been undertaken on the Yellow-faced Berke sheep, known as the Sandsheep or Yellow-faced of Kecskemét to date, and the small population, which is mainly found in the southern region of Hungary, is at risk of extinction. In this study blood samples from 40 sheep from two farms in the South of Hungary were selected for Control Region sequencing and subsequent analysis. These were compared with CR data available from GenBank resources in order to compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the two farm populations and other indigenous Hungarian breeds. It was discovered that the Sand sheep bears many similarities to other native Hungarian breeds, and the native breeds of many neighbouring countries, proving a common maternal origin. Surprisingly, it was also discovered the minor presence of haplogroup C, derived from the sheep found in the core of Asia, demonstrating a more complex maternal origin of the Sand sheep than previously believed.