The Tsigai breed in Eurasian sheep breeding

The aim of the study is to conduct an analysis using a literature review that briefly reflects the issues of sheep domestication and breed formation, as well as the origin, evolution and formation of intrabreed types of Tsigai sheep against the background of various natural and climatic conditions of the Eurasian continent and their influence on the formation of some breeds. Sheep breeds were formed in close connection with the environment, ensuring optimal adaptation to the conditions of each region. One of these breeds is Tsigai, which arose several hundred years ago and is gradually spreading in a number of geographic regions of Eurasia. The origin of the Tsigai sheep breed is still controversial, and genetic studies provide the clearest ideas in understanding the origin of animals of this breed. The population of the Tsigai breed is currently not giving up its positions on the Eurasian continent. In the process of selection of the breed population, an array of animals adapted to the natural and climatic conditions of the regions, having good productive qualities, was developed, and further breeding of animals of this breed is aimed at improving competitive indicators of productivity (meat and increasingly important milk productivity) without deteriorating the quality characteristics of wool. Today, the population of the Tsigai breed is diverse and formed in each of the geographical zones of Eurasia depending on the natural and climatic conditions and the needs of the population for sheep products. Given the significant distribution of the Tsigai sheep breed on the Eurasian continent and its formed diversity of productive traits, it is currently relevant to study the genetic differences of populations, preserving their diversity in purebred breeding herds.