
Domestic and Wild Sheep
Origins, Genetics and Breeding
- 1st Edition - September 1, 2025
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Authors: Menghua Li, Hosein Salehian Dehkordi
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 4 3 9 9 4 - 0
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 4 3 9 9 5 - 7
The Characterization of Genus Ovis: Genetics, Domestication and Behavior delves into the diverse world of wild and domesticated sheep. This book offers comprehensive inform… Read more

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Request a sales quoteFurthermore, it offers new insights into the functional genetics of sheep species, their migrations and expansions in connection with human history, and guidance on successful breeding and husbandry. The book is organized for accessibility to student, academic, and professional audiences, making it an indispensable resource for anyone interested in animal evolution, diversity, behavior, and husbandry.
- Provides readers with an overview of species within the genus Ovis
- Covers the behaviors, biological characteristics, migrations, and expansions of these species
- Compares the genetic markers in wild and domesticated species
- Explores the history and significance of these species to human society
1. An introduction to sheep, its importance in human history, its taxonomic classification and diversity
2. Bighorn sheep (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴)
3. Thinhorn sheep (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪)
4. Snow sheep (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢)
5. Argali (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯)
6. Urial (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘪)
7. Asian mouflon (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴; 𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪)
8. European mouflon (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯)
9. Domestic sheep (𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)
Part 2.
10. Adapted behaviors of genus Ovis to various conditions
11. Reproductive behaviors during the reproductive season
12. Genes and behavioral traits
13. New methods and technologies to record sheep behaviors
Part 3.
14. Genetic markers and platforms in genetics studies of sheep
15. Functional genes and genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic variations in wild sheep
16. Functional genes for meat production and growth traits
17. Functional genes for milk production
18. Functional genes for wool traits and coat colors
19. Functional genes for reproductive traits
20. Functional genes for tail-type traits
21. Functional genes related to appendages (i.e., horns, teats, ears)
22. Functional genes for stress and disease resistance
Part 4.
23. Sheep domestication and major post-domestication breeding
24. Post-domestication expansions and haplotypes
25. Archaeological evidence and historical records for sheep remains and ancient DNA
26. Evidence from Neolithic archaeological sites during past millennia and post-domestication migrations
27. Interspecies mating and genetic introgressions among the 𝘖𝘷𝘪𝘴 species
- Edition: 1
- Published: September 1, 2025
- No. of pages (Paperback): 450
- No. of pages (eBook): 450
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443439940
- eBook ISBN: 9780443439957
ML
Menghua Li
Dr. Menghua Li is Full Professor and head of China Agricultural University’s College of Animal Science and Technology, as well as head of the Sino-Arabian Joint Laboratory for Sheep and Goat Germplasm Innovation in Beijing, China. He obtained a PhD in Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction from Huazhong Agricultural University’s College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and brings more than 20 years of experience to the project. His research focuses on animal ecology, evolutionary biology, animal breeding, and germplasm innovation. Dr. Li has been the Chairman of the Sheep Committee of the International Society of Animal Genetics since 2019 and the Chairman of the first, second, third, and fourth World Sheep Conferences.
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