Cameroon Blackbelly sheep are a domestic breed of hair sheep from West/Central Africa. They are popular with small-holder farmers in Cameroon as they are highly resilient to local environmental challenges and are prolific a-seasonal breeders. The aim of this study was to characterise the genetics of Cameroon Blackbelly sheep in relation to global sheep populations and to investigate their relationship to Caribbean hair sheep. We first examined the genetic diversity of the Cameroon Blackbelly breed relative to global sheep populations using 50K SNP data. We also used whole genome sequence data to further investigate relationships between Cameroon Blackbelly and breeds from Africa and Europe, as well as the Barbados Blackbelly breed from the Caribbean, which is phenotypically similar to Cameroon Blackbelly. ADMIXTURE results based on 50K and WGS data demonstrated both West/Central African and European ancestries for the Barbados Blackbelly sheep. Results from f4-statistics-based qpAdm analyses supported these findings. Local ancestry inference identified several genomic regions in Barbados Blackbelly with high proportions of West/Central African ancestry. One of these, on OAR3, includes various keratin genes, suggesting that these genes may play a role in the shared coat phenotypes of the Barbados Blackbelly and Cameroon Blackbelly. This result is consistent with previous reports of adaptive introgression of coat characteristics in both wild and domesticated species. The findings of our study support the view that sheep were transported from West/Central Africa to the Caribbean as part of the transatlantic slave trade and European colonisation, similar to introductions proposed for cattle and goats.

Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Beltsville Maryland USA

Cameroon Academy of Sciences Yaoundé Cameroon

Dairy Research Innovation Centre South and West Faculty Scotland's Rural College Dumfries UK

Department of Biochemistry The Faculty of Sciences The University of Dschang Dschang Cameroon

Department of Biology and Ecology Faculty of Science University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of Zootechnics Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences University of Dschang Dschang Cameroon

Moredun Research Institute Midlothian UK

Roslin Institute and Royal School of Veterinary Studies University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK

University of Tours ISP INRAE Nouzilly France

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Ahbara, A. , Bahbahani H., Almathen F., et al. 2019. “Genome‐Wide Variation, Candidate Regions and Genes Associated With Fat Deposition and Tail Morphology in Ethiopian Indigenous Sheep.” Frontiers in Genetics 9: 699. PubMed PMC

Ahbara, A. M. , Rouatbi M., Gharbi M., et al. 2021. “Genome‐Wide Insights on Gastrointestinal Nematode Resistance in Autochthonous Tunisian Sheep.” Scientific Reports 11: 9250. PubMed PMC

Alexander, D. H. , Novembre J., and Lange K.. 2009. “Fast Model‐Based Estimation of Ancestry in Unrelated Individuals.” Genome Research 19: 1655–1664. PubMed PMC

Anderson, T. M. , vonHoldt B. M., Candille S. I., et al. 2009. “Molecular and Evolutionary History of Melanism in North American Gray Wolves.” Science 323: 1339–1343. PubMed PMC

Aumont, G. , Gruner L., and Hostache G.. 2003. “Comparison of the Resistance to Sympatric and Allopatric Isolates of PubMed

Becker, G. M. , Burke J. M., Lewis R. M., et al. 2022. “Variants Within Genes PubMed DOI PMC

Becker, G. M. , Davenport K. M., Burke J. M., et al. 2020. “Genome‐Wide Association Study to Identify Genetic Loci Associated With Gastrointestinal Nematode Resistance in Katahdin Sheep.” Animal Genetics 51: 330–335. PubMed PMC

Ben‐Jemaa, S. , Adam G., Boussaha M., et al. 2023. “Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Signals of Adaptive Admixture in Creole Cattle.” Scientific Reports 13: 12155. PubMed PMC

Browning, B. L. , Tian X., Zhou Y., and Browning S. R.. 2021. “Fast Two‐Stage Phasing of Large‐Scale Sequence Data.” American Journal of Human Genetics 108: 1880–1890. PubMed PMC

Browning, B. L. , Zhou Y., and Browning S. R.. 2018. “A One‐Penny Imputed Genome From Next‐Generation Reference Panels.” American Journal of Human Genetics 103: 338–348. PubMed PMC

Browning, S. R. , and Browning B. L.. 2007. “Rapid and Accurate Haplotype Phasing and Missing‐Data Inference for Whole‐Genome Association Studies by Use of Localized Haplotype Clustering.” American Journal of Human Genetics 81: 1084–1097. PubMed PMC

Chang, C. C. , Chow C. C., Tellier L. C. A. M., Vattikuti S., Purcell S. M., and Lee J. J.. 2015. “Second‐Generation PLINK: Rising to the Challenge of Larger and Richer Datasets.” GigaScience 4: 7. PubMed PMC

Clark, E. L. , Bush S. J., McCulloch M. E. B., et al. 2017. “A High Resolution Atlas of Gene Expression in the Domestic Sheep ( PubMed PMC

Combs, W. 1983. “A History of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep.” In Hair Sheep of Westrn Africa and the Americas, edited by Fitzhugh H. A.. CRC Press.

Da Silva, A. , Ahbara A., Baazaoui I., et al. 2025. “History and Genetic Diversity of African Sheep: Contrasting Phenotypic and Genomic Diversity.” Animal Genetics 56: e13488. PubMed PMC

Danecek, P. , Bonfield J. K., Liddle J., et al. 2021. “Twelve Years of SAMtools and BCFtools.” GigaScience 10: 4987. PubMed PMC

de Almeida, A. M. 2018. “Barbados Blackbelly: The Caribbean Ovine Genetic Resource.” Tropical Animal Health and Production 50: 239–250. PubMed

De Beukelaer, H. , Davenport G. F., and Fack V.. 2018. “Core Hunter 3: Flexible Core Subset Selection.” BMC Bioinformatics 19: 203. PubMed PMC

Escher, L. M. , Naslavsky M. S., Scliar M. O., et al. 2022. “Challenges in Selecting Admixture Models and Marker Sets to Infer Genetic Ancestry in a Brazilian Admixed Population.” Scientific Reports 12: 21240. PubMed PMC

Fan, R. , Xie J., Bai J., et al. 2013. “Skin Transcriptome Profiles Associated With Coat Color in Sheep.” BMC Genomics 14: 389. PubMed PMC

FAO . 2015. The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Assessments.

Feiner, N. , Yang W., Bunikis I., While G. M., and Uller T.. 2024. “Adaptive Introgression Reveals the Genetic Basis of a Sexually Selected Syndrome in Wall Lizards.” Science Advances 10: eadk9315. PubMed PMC

Flegontova, O. , Işıldak U., Yüncü E., et al. 2025. “Performance of PubMed PMC

Friedrich, J. , and Wiener P.. 2020. “Selection Signatures for High‐Altitude Adaptation in Ruminants.” Animal Genetics 51: 157–165. PubMed

Gautier, M. , and Naves M.. 2011. “Footprints of Selection in the Ancestral Admixture of a New World Creole Cattle Breed.” Molecular Ecology 20: 3128–3143. PubMed

Ginja, C. , Gama L. T., Cortés O., et al. 2019. “The Genetic Ancestry of American Creole Cattle Inferred From Uniparental and Autosomal Genetic Markers.” Scientific Reports 9: 589. PubMed PMC

Haak, W. , Lazaridis I., Patterson N., et al. 2015. “Massive Migration From the Steppe Was a Source for Indo‐European Languages in Europe.” Nature 522: 207. PubMed PMC

Han, J. L. , Yang M., Guo T. T., et al. 2015. “Molecular Characterization of Two Candidate Genes Associated With Coat Color in Tibetan Sheep (

Hanotte, O. , Ronin Y., Agaba M., et al. 2003. “Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling Trypanotolerance in a Cross of Tolerant West African N'dama and Susceptible East African Boran Cattle.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100: 7443–7448. PubMed PMC

Harney, É. , Patterson N., Reich D., and Wakeley J.. 2021. “Assessing the Performance of gpAdm: A Statistical Too for Studying Population Admixture.” Genetics 217: 789. PubMed PMC

Hauswirth, R. , Haase B., Blatter M., et al. 2012. “Mutations in PubMed PMC

Hedrick, P. W. 2013. “Adaptive Introgression in Animals: Examples and Comparison to New Mutation and Standing Variation as Sources of Adaptive Variation.” Molecular Ecology 22: 4606–4618. PubMed

Hofstetter, S. , Seefried F., Häfliger I. M., Jagannathan V., Leeb T., and Drögemüller C.. 2019. “A Non‐Coding Regulatory Variant in the 5′‐Region of the PubMed

Huson, D. H. 1998. “SplitsTree: Analyzing and Visualizing Evolutionary Data.” Bioinformatics 14: 68–73. PubMed

Huson, H. J. , Kim E.‐S., Godfrey R. W., et al. 2014. “Genome‐Wide Association Study and Ancestral Origins of the Slick‐Hair Coat in Tropically Adapted Cattle.” Frontiers in Genetics 5: 469. PubMed PMC

Kalds, P. , Zhou S., Gao Y., et al. 2022. “Genetics of the Phenotypic Evolution in Sheep: A Molecular Look at Diversity‐Driving Genes.” Genetics Selection Evolution 54: 61. PubMed PMC

Kang, X. , Liu G., Liu Y., Xu Q., Zhang M., and Fang M.. 2013. “Transcriptome Profile at Different Physiological Stages Reveals Potential Mode for Curly Fleece in Chinese Tan Sheep.” PLoS One 8: e71763. PubMed PMC

Kerr, E. , Marr M. M., Collins L., et al. 2024. “Analysis of Genotyping Data Reveals the Unique Genetic Diversity Represented by the Breeds of Sheep Native to the United Kingdom.” BMC Genomic Data 25: 82. PubMed PMC

Kijas, J. W. , Lenstra J. A., Hayes B., et al. 2012. “Genome‐Wide Analysis of the World's Sheep Breeds Reveals High Levels of Historic Mixture and Strong Recent Selection.” PLoS Biology 10, no. 2: e1001258. 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001258. PubMed DOI PMC

Leegwater, P. A. , Vos‐Loohuis M., Ducro B. J., et al. 2016. “Dwarfism With Joint Laxity in Friesian Horses Is Associated With a Splice Site Mutation in PubMed PMC

Li, H. 2011. “A Statistical Framework for SNP Calling, Mutation Discovery, Association Mapping and Population Genetical Parameter Estimation From Sequencing Data.” Bioinformatics 27: 2987–2993. PubMed PMC

Li, H. , and Durbin R.. 2009. “Fast and Accurate Short Read Alignment With Burrows–Wheeler Transform.” Bioinformatics 25: 1754–1760. PubMed PMC

MacKinnon, K. M. , Zajac A. M., Kooyman F. N. J., and Notter D. R.. 2010. “Differences in Immune Parameters Are Associated With Resistance to PubMed

Maier, R. , Flegontov P., Flegontova O., Isildak U., Changmai P., and Reich D.. 2023. “On the Limits of Fitting Complex Models of Population History to PubMed PMC

Maples, B. K. , Gravel S., Kenny E. E., and Bustamante C. D.. 2013. “RFMix: A Discriminative Modeling Approach for Rapid and Robust Local‐Ancestry Inference.” American Journal of Human Genetics 93: 278–288. PubMed PMC

McKenna, A. , Hanna M., Banks E., et al. 2010. “The Genome Analysis Toolkit: A MapReduce Framework for Analyzing Next‐Generation DNA Sequencing Data.” Genome Research 20: 1297–1303. PubMed PMC

Meka, M. A. Z. , Meutchieye F., Fonteh F., and Tadakeng Y.. 2021. “Production Methods, Phenotype Characteristics and the Potential of Blackbelly Sheep in the Central Africa Forest Zone.” In International Symposium on Sustainable Animal Production and Health – Current Status and Way Forward. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Meka Zibi, M. A. , Meutchieye F., Ntsoli J., Tadakeng Y., and Fonteh F.. 2019. “Factors Affecting the Global Diffusion of an African Animal Genetic Resource: The Case Study of the Cameroon Blackbelly Sheep.” PKFokam Journal of Applied Science and Technology 48: 28–37.

Noyes, H. , Brass A., Obara I., et al. 2011. “Genetic and Expression Analysis of Cattle Identifies Candidate Genes in Pathways Responding to Trypanosoma Congolense Infection.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108: 9304–9309. PubMed PMC

Ormond, C. , Ryan N. M., Corvin A., and Heron E. A.. 2021. “Converting Single Nucleotide Variants Between Genome Builds: From Cautionary Tale to Solution.” Briefings in Bioinformatics 22: 789. PubMed PMC

Orteu, A. , and Jiggins C. D.. 2020. “The Genomics of Coloration Provides Insights Into Adaptive Evolution.” Nature Reviews Genetics 21: 461–475. PubMed

Purcell, S. M. , and Chang C. C.. n.d.‐a. “PLINK 1.9.” www.cog‐genomics.org/plink/1.9/.

Purcell, S. M. , and Chang C. C.. n.d.‐b. “PLINK 2.0.” www.cog‐genomics.org/plink/2.0/.

Quinlan, A. R. , and Hall I. M.. 2010. “BEDTools: A Flexible Suite of Utilities for Comparing Genomic Features.” Bioinformatics 26: 841–842. PubMed PMC

Rothschild, M. F. , Van Cleave P. S., Glenn K. L., Carlstrom L. P., and Ellinwood N. M.. 2006. “Association of PubMed

Secolin, R. , Mas‐Sandoval A., Arauna L. R., et al. 2019. “Distribution of Local Ancestry and Evidence of Adaptation in Admixed Populations.” Scientific Reports 9: 13900. PubMed PMC

Sevane, N. , Cortés O., Gama L. T., et al. 2018. “Dissection of Ancestral Genetic Contributions to Creole Goat Populations.” Animal 12: 2017–2126. PubMed

Spangler, G. L. , Rosen B. D., Ilori M. B., et al. 2017. “Whole Genome Structural Analysis of Caribbean Hair Sheep Reveals Quantitative Link to West African Ancestry.” PLoS One 12: e0179021. PubMed PMC

Tendonkeng, F. , Pamo T. E., Boukila B., Defang F. H., and Njiki E. W.. 2013. “Socio‐Economic and Technical Characteristics of Small Ruminant Rearing in South Region of Cameroon: Case of Mvila Division.” Livestock Research for Rural Development 25: 769.

Terefe, G. , Lacroux C., Andreoletti O., et al. 2007. “Immune Response to PubMed

Thorne, J. W. , Murdoch B. M., Freking B. A., et al. 2021. “Evolution of the Sheep Industry and Genetic Research in the United States: Opportunities for Convergence in the Twenty‐First Century.” Animal Genetics 52: 395–408. PubMed PMC

Vernot, B. , and Akey J. M.. 2014. “Resurrecting Surviving Neandertal Lineages From Modern Human Genomes.” Science 343: 1017–1021. PubMed

Ward, J. A. , Nga S. I., Randhawa I. A. S., et al. 2024. “Genomic Insights Into the Population History and Adaptive Traits of Latin American Criollo Cattle.” Royal Society Open Science 11: 369. PubMed PMC

Weir, B. S. , and Cockerham C. C.. 1984. “Estimating F‐Statistics for the Analysis of Population Structure.” Evolution 38: 1358–1370. PubMed

Wiener, P. , Robert C., Ahbara A., et al. 2021. “Whole‐Genome Sequence Data Suggest Environmental Adaptation of Ethiopian Sheep Populations.” Genome Biology and Evolution 13: 1236. PubMed PMC

Wiener, P. , and Wilkinson S.. 2011. “Deciphering the Genetic Basis of Animal Domestication.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278: 3161–3170. PubMed PMC

Wilkinson, S. , Lu Z. H., Megens H. J., et al. 2013. “Signatures of Diversifying Selection in European Pig Breeds.” PLoS Genetics 9: 1538. PubMed PMC

Woolley, S. A. , Salavati M., and Clark E. L.. 2023. “Recent Advances in the Genomic Resources for Sheep.” Mammalian Genome 34: 545–558. PubMed PMC

Yaro, M. , Munyard K. A., Morgan E., Allcock R. J. N., Stear M. J., and Groth D. M.. 2019. “Analysis of Pooled Genome Sequences From Djallonke and Sahelian Sheep of Ghana Reveals Co‐Localisation of Regions of Reduced Heterozygosity With Candidate Genes for Disease Resistance and Adaptation to a Tropical Environment.” BMC Genomics 20: 816. PubMed PMC

Yurchenko, A. A. , Daetwyler H. D., Yudin N., et al. 2018. “Scans for Signatures of Selection in Russian Cattle Breed Genomes Reveal New Candidate Genes for Environmental Adaptation and Acclimation.” Scientific Reports 8, no. 1: 12984. 10.1038/s41598-018-31304-w. PubMed DOI PMC