TIPO GENETICO AUTOCTONO ANTICO OVINO DELL’AMIATA: CONTRIBUTO ALLA STIMA DELLA VARIABILITÀ GENETICA OVINO DELL’AMIATA SHEEP ANCIENT AUTOCHTHONOUS GENETIC TYPE: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENETIC VARIABILITY ESTIMATION

The current research, inserted in the frame-shift of a transfrontier project aimed at valorizing livestock autochthonous germplasm of Maremma, intends to provide contribute to the knowledge of the genetic variability of „Amiatina‟ sheep ancient autochthonous genetic type (AAGT) for its desirable rescue. The knowledge of genetic variability degree of a population allows to gain semantic elements in order to implement proper safeguard plans, such as the possibility to acquire useful data for more corrected reproductive 208 programs aimed at increasing, in the limits of the possibility, the genetic variability of a population at risk of extinction. Currently, the aforesaid genetic type is not registered in the „Zootechnical Book‟ and, not being inserted in Voluntary Book of genetic resources of Toscana region, doesn‟t take advantage of regional subsidies foreseen for farming of the autochthonous breeds at risk of extinction. Genetic typifying at 18 microsatellite loci or STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) (included in the panel proposed by ISAG/FAO Committee, 2004)involved 64 subjects distributed across 4 farming or „demi‟ situated in Province of Grosseto. Within the limits of the observation field, the molecular characterization evidenced the existence of: (i) a degree of genetic polymorphism in „Amiatina‟ AAGT similar to that observed in other Italian sheep autochthonous types; (ii) a weak level of differentiation between ‟demi‟ considered. Nevertheless, it is desirable to increase the number of subjects and to use genotypic data of other sheep autochthonous types in the perspective of a comparison aimed at individuating the genetic unici ty of this population useful for a registration of this population in the Zootechnical Book of sheep breeds at limited diffusion.