Description and purpose
The project characterizes the Delle Langhe sheep breed, focusing on milk quality, disease resistance, and genetics. Phenotypes include fat, protein, casein, lactose, minerals, fatty acids, protein fractions, metabolites, acidity, fat globule size, and coagulation. SNP genotyping and miRNA analysis support pedigree verification, inbreeding estimation, trait selection, and biomarker identification. Community-based breeding programs involve breeders for effective genetic improvement.
Purpose
The project aims to characterize the Delle Langhe sheep breed, focusing on milk quality, disease resistance, and genetics; evaluate and improve milk composition; develop affordable and reliable mid-infrared spectroscopy for routine milk phenotype prediction; verify pedigree and manage inbreeding; identify genomic and miRNA markers for resilience; and implement a community-based breeding program reflecting breeders’ preferences.
Expected results
Expected results include valorization of Delle Langhe sheep milk through compositional analysis, assessment and improvement of milk quality, prediction of milk phenotypes via mid-infrared spectroscopy, verification and implementation of pedigree data, estimation of consanguinity and planning of matings, characterization of disease resistance and resilience via genomics and miRNA, and development of a community-based breeding program reflecting owners’ preferences.
Achieved results
Delle Langhe sheep were sampled and underwent extensive milk phenotyping, including composition, quality, and technological traits. Genomic information was also collected to relate genetic data to milk traits and to breeders’ opinions, supporting selection strategies and breed management while integrating practical knowledge from the farming community.
