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Abstract: Several naturalized sheep breeds in the South American continent have little objective information available and as population size is becoming smaller the need for this information becomes more critical. The objective of this study was to differentiate between naturalized breeds in Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia using morphological descriptors and compare them with commercial breeds. The amount of 928 morphometric measurements and 2918 weights were collected. Phenotypic characterization was carried out using size, weight, colour and conformation of the animals, as well as 16 morphometric measurements of the animals. Phenotypic data were analysed using PROC GLM, CORR and PRINCOMP of Statistical Analysis System (SAS®). The distance between breeds was carried out using morphometric and morphological data using UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method Arithmetic Mean) method to create a dendrogram. Phenotypic characterization was shown to be an accessible and easy to use tool in conservation and breeding programs. The breed was the most important factor to differentiate between the animals measured, and adult weight most influenced by the environment. Commercial breeds were larger and Santa Inês animals from the Center-west and Southwest closer to Bergamasca than in other regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Creole sheep represent a strategic genetic resource for populations living in marginal areas under financial restrictions on the American continent. Six Colombian sheep breeds (two wool (BCL-Boyacá and NCL-Nariño, 12 and 14 samples) and four hair (OPCE-Ethiopian, 54 samples; OPCS-Sudan, 74 samples; OPCP-Pelibeuy, 59 samples; OPCW-Wayúu, 24 samples) were genotyped using the Illumina Ovine SNP50 BeadChip. Data was also included from international 44 breeds from International Sheep Genomics Consortium (ISGC) and from data published in previous a previous work on the Caribbean and African breeds. Although geographically separated, wool (NCL, BCL) and hair types (OPCE, OPCS, OPCW) presented little genetic differentiation (FST 0.05) at a global level but several groups of animals separated suggesting local clustering due to geographical isolation. The OPCP underwent a recent crossing with Mexican Pelibuey, explaining its differentiation. Findings in this work such as the proximity to West African Djallonké (WAD) and Barbados Black Belly (BBB), suggest different introductions of African type animals from the Caribbean region on a pre-existing genetic basis formed by animals deriving from the first importations coming from Europe in colonial times. As expected, Colombian wool breeds showed, in particular in Admixture software results, a greater genomic component in common with European breeds and in particular with Iberian ones (Churra). This study provides a basis for future research into the genetic diversity within and between the Colombian sheep breeds analysed, and scientific data for policy decisions on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR).