Pronounced differences in the frequency of TaqI beta A-inhibin alleles between sheep breeds with different reproductive performance.

A total of 419 individuals of four breeds with differing fecundity (Rhoenschaf, Merinolandschaf, East Friesian Milksheep, Romanov) and several wild sheep of the Ovis musimon, O. orientalis, O. vignei and O. ammon groups were screened for genetic variation at the beta A-inhibin (INHBA) locus with up to 11 enzymes. The four breeds differed significantly (P < 0.001) in TaqI allele frequencies. The frequency of the TaqI A allele coincided with the average litter size in each breed.