The aim of this study was to characterize from the genetic point of view eight alpine sheep
breeds reared in Italy (Bergamasca, Biellese, Schwarzbraunes Bergschaf and Tiroler Bergschaf),
Germany (Brillenschaf and Weisses Bergschaf) and Slovenia (Bovška and Jezerzko-Solčavska)
through the use of microsatellite molecular markers. Allelic richness was rather high in each
breed highlighting a considerable genetic diversity. However, the study evidenced a significant
departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all analyzed breeds caused by a heterozygote
deficiency. Such lack seems to be caused by a rather high level of inbreeding. The genetic
differentiation among breeds was rather low (F ST = 0.064) but significant. The neighbour-joining
tree obtained from Reynolds’ genetic distance estimates, showed the presence of three groups
formed by the three Bergschaf breeds, the Italian Bergamasca and Biellese and the two
Slovenian breeds together with the German Brillenschaf. Such grouping is in accordance with
the breeds’ region of origin and with their known history. Concluding, microsatellite resulted to
be a useful tool to investigate breed variability and to characterize alpine sheep breeds. Obtained
findings suggest the need to set up a conservation plan aiming to safeguard and increase the
genetic variability of the studied breeds compromised by the high level of inbreeding.
Microsatellites genotyping could help to monitor breed variability and to organize matings.
