biostudies-literatureWang S"Grassland Talents" Scholar ProgramInner Mongolia Science and Technology Plan"High-Level Overseas Talents" ProjectState Key Laboratory for Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland LivestockXilingol Science and Technology Plan"High-level Talents" Import Program of the Inner Mongolia University222https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11945889biostudies-literatureUnknown12(3)Reproductive performance in sheep plays a crucial role in determining the economic efficiency of the industry, with increasing litter size being a key focus for genetic improvement. The <i>BMP15</i> gene is widely recognized as a major gene influencing sheep fertility. In this study, specific mutations in the <i>BMP15</i> gene of Gobi short tail sheep were identified through direct sequencing, and these mutations were genotyped using the MassARRAY system. The g.54285159_54285161TTA indel was significantly associated with litter size in Gobi short tail sheep (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Three mutations, including g.54291460G>A, g.54288671C>T, and the g.54285159_54285161TTA indel, were significantly associated with litter size in Ujimqin sheep (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, the promoter activity analVeterinary sciencesVariants in &lt;i&gt;BMP15&lt;/i&gt; Gene Affect Promoter Activity and Litter Size in Gobi Short Tail and Ujimqin Sheep.PMC11945889GD2022102021ZD00462021ZZ020421400-5165112CYYC6068[2018] No. 1902024SKYPT0068Tong BJin HLi CCao GWang SWang DDu GZhang MCang MBai YAlatan SfalseVariants in &lt;i&gt;BMP15&lt;/i&gt; Gene Affect Promoter Activity and Litter Size in Gobi Short Tail and Ujimqin Sheep.Reproductive performance in sheep plays a crucial role in determining the economic efficiency of the industry, with increasing litter size being a key focus for genetic improvement. The <i>BMP15</i> gene is widely recognized as a major gene influencing sheep fertility. In this study, specific mutations in the <i>BMP15</i> gene of Gobi short tail sheep were identified through direct sequencing, and these mutations were genotyped using the MassARRAY system. The g.54285159_54285161TTA indel was significantly associated with litter size in Gobi short tail sheep (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Three mutations, including g.54291460G>A, g.54288671C>T, and the g.54285159_54285161TTA indel, were significantly associated with litter size in Ujimqin sheep (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, the promoter activity anal2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2026-04-23T03:21:40.463Z2025-07-09T03:04:44.616ZS-EPMC119458894026691710.3390/vetsci12030222