Skip to main content

Domestic and Wild Sheep

Origins, Genetics and Breeding

  • 1st Edition - September 12, 2025
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Menghua Li, Hosein Salehian Dehkordi
  • Language: English

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

Data Mining & ML

Unlock the cutting edge

Up to 20% on trusted resources. Build expertise with data mining, ML methods.

Description

The Characterization of Genus Ovis: Genetics, Domestication and Behavior delves into the diverse world of wild and domesticated sheep. This book offers comprehensive information on the genetics, evolution, diversity, behavior, expansion, breeding, and domestication of sheep. It is a detailed characterization of this ecologically and commercially significant genus. Written by experts who have hosted the World Sheep Conference four times, the book is systematically structured into four sections to guide readers through the various Ovis species, their biological characteristics, genetic markers, and their significance to human populations.

Furthermore, 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.

Key features

  • 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

Readership

Academic researchers and industry scientists in the fields of animal breeding, evolution, behavior, and biodiversity

Table of contents

Part 1.

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

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: September 12, 2025
  • Language: English

About the authors

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.

Affiliations and expertise
China Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Beijing, China

HS

Hosein Salehian Dehkordi

Dr. Hosein Salehian Dehkordi is Researcher at both China Agricultural University, Beijing, and the Institute of Grassland Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot. He obtained his MSc in Animal Genetics and Breeding from Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, and his PhD in Animal Genomics and Ecology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. Following his PhD, he served as Assistant Professor at Shahrekord University, Iran. His current research focuses on animal ecology, evolutionary biology, animal breeding, and germplasm innovation, and is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Affiliations and expertise
China Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Beijing, China

View book on ScienceDirect

Read Domestic and Wild Sheep on ScienceDirect