Color Genetics of Gotland Sheep in North America

by Franna Pitt, PhD

Copyright, 2007

What color is this sheep? - Puzzles

Following are several photos of sheep representing Foundation breeds and Gotland cross sheep. You are to figure out as much of the genotype as possible from the photo and the information given. Here are some tips:

• Any sheep that is predominantly white/tan has to have at least one copy of the AWt allele. Any white sheep is also E+/E+ at the Extension locus.
• Any brown (not tan) colored sheep is Bb/Bb. Any black sheep is either BB/BB or BB/Bb.
• Any sheep with a distinct pattern is E+/E+ and A(p)/A? where (p) represents the pattern designation - b, t, or bl.
• Any sheep showing white spots on the head, legs, tail, or body is Ss/Ss.
• If two colored sheep produce a white lamb, at least one of them is ED/ED or ED/E+.
• Any sheep out of a Gotland sire (imported semen) can be assumed to be BB/_ Agg/_ S?/_ E+/_
• Each sheep gets one and only one allele from each parent for each trait.
• Any sheep produced from Gotland semen that hasn't started to turn grey by about 8 weeks of age can be assumed to be Extension dominant, and is ED/E+ BB/B? Agg/A? S?/S?

Enjoy the puzzles!

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