High-Throughput Whole Transcriptome Sequencing of Ovaries in Chinese Wanlin white Goats: A Comparison Between High and Low Litter Size Groups
To identify the key candidate genes affecting the litter size of Wanlin White goats and further explore the regulatory mechanisms influencing high and low fecundity in Wanlin White goats by combining other multi-omics approaches, RNA-seq was performed on multiparous Wanlin White goats sourced from Hefei Boda Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd. (a core breeding farm for Wanlin White goats) in Anhui Province.The goats were divided into two groups based on their litter size records: the monotocous group (with an average litter size of 1 kid per parity) and the polytocous group (with an average litter size of more than 3 kids per parity). All does had a parity number of 3 or higher.The experimental does were subjected to synchronized estrus treatment, and they were similar in age, with roughly consistent body condition, and were managed under the same feeding regime. On the 1st day of estrus, in accordance with animal ethics requirements, the does in estrus were slaughtered. A portion of the right ovarian tissue was collected from each doe and sent to Beijing Novogene Technology Co., Ltd. for whole transcriptome sequencing.