The study analyzed the genetic structure of the Russian goat population of Alpine and Nubian goat breeds by loci CSN1S1 (alleles B1, B2, B3, B4, C) and CSN1S2 (alleles A and B). It was revealed that the highest frequency of occurrence in the CSN1S1 locus in the Alpine breed is represented by goats with the B1, B3 genotype, and in the Nubian – with the CC genotype, and in the CSN1S2 locus for both breeds – with the AA genotype. There were no significant differences between animals of different genotypes at the CSN1S1 locus in either the Alpine or Nubian breeds, at the same time, it was found that animals of the AA genotype at the CSN1S2 locus significantly surpass goats of other genotypes in terms of average casein content (for both breeds) and average protein content (in the Alpine breed). The preferred genotype for the selection of animals to increase the cheese suitability of milk and its hypoallergenic qualities is CSN1S1^CC/CSN1S2^AA.

Using the polymerase chain reaction method with the subsequent analysis of PCR-RFLP restriction fragment length polymorphism, different frequencies of alleles and genotypes of the gene in the calpastatin locus (CAST) were determined. Three genotypes with two alleles with different frequencies were identified in the Southern meat breed subpopulation. In the calpastatin gene locus, the homozygous genotype CAST^MM/^NN dominates – 83%, heterozygous genotype CAST^MN is 17%. Homozygous CAST^MM individuals significantly exceeded heterozygous CAST^MN in live weight from birth to weaning by 17.8%, and at 12 months – by 10.8%, and in wool production – by 10.8%. The ewes of the heterozygous type CAST^MN have demonstrated the best reproductive abilities; they were more multiparous – 64.7% twins and 8.9% triplets.

The article presents the results of an analysis of the frequencies of alternative alleles in SNPs associated with milk production. 12 breeds of sheep belonging to different productivity types were studied. The identified trends in the distribution of allele frequencies in Russian breeds in the LEP, STX18 and PRL genes indicate that the Karakul, Karachaev, Lezgin and Ossetian breeds are potentially more preferable for milk production compared to other studied groups.

The article presents the breeding area of the Romanov breed of sheep, the dynamics of the sheep population in the Russian Federation and the Yaroslavl region from 01.01.2013 to 01.01.2024. The breeding base has been analyzed. The characteristic of productive and reproductive qualities of the Romanov breed of sheep is given. Comparative characteristics of production indicators of breeding farms are carried out. A comparative analysis of the bonification by the qualitative composition of breeding herds is made. The article provides information on the sale of breeding young Romanov sheep over the past 10 years.

 Based on the results of the tested Tsigai sheep, an analysis of the number and main indicators of their productivity for the period from 2019 to 2023 is presented. In the Russian Federation there is one breeding plant and four breeding reproducers for breeding Tsigai sheep.

Goat breeding is an important area of animal husbandry, and is of great importance for food security and economic development in many countries. The main attention is paid to the dairy productivity of goats, as goat’s milk is becoming increasingly popular on the world market due to its nutritional properties. This work is aimed at analyzing the situation of the level of modern development of the economic and social significance of goat breeding in the world and the Russian Federation.

At the present stage of economic development, the mutton market is in a stage of change. This state of affairs is due to a number of factors: rising meat prices, a decrease in the solvency of the population, and an increase in the demands of buyers. The article considers the main trends in the development of the lamb market, taking into account the development of consumer demand.

 The article substantiates approaches to the formation of a system of analytical monitoring of the market of sheep products. In order to ensure an objective assessment of the cost of certain types of finished products of the sheep industry, a refined methodology for determining the cost of production is proposed, which provides for a combined method of calculating it, i.e. a coefficient for the distribution of costs of joint production and a direct way to include costs directly related to the production of the corresponding types of products. The use of the proposed methodology makes it possible to strengthen the analytical component of decision-making by the heads of sheep-breeding enterprises.

Sheep produce 13 types of products, one of which is wool. For centuries, it has been used by humans to preserve health and well-being. Russia ranks 9th in the world in terms of wool production. In 2023, Russia produced 2.6% of the world’s wool. Compared with the beginning of the 90s of the twentieth century, there have been significant shifts in the structure of Russian sheep breeding towards a decrease in the share of finewool breeds in the total number of sheep. The main experiments on crossing queens of Russian breeds with sheep of foreign breeding in order to increase wool productivity are conducted according to the main indicators of productivity of shearing, strength, tortuosity and other indicators.

The article presents the material on the study of wool productivity, wool quality and blood biochemistry in purebred and crossbred young Romanovs. It was found that the yield of dirty wool from the counting sites of crossbred rams was 1.99 g or 47.8% more compared to purebred ones, for washed wool the difference was 1.55 g or 43.2% in favor of crossbreds. At the same time, the yield of washed wool was higher in purebred rams and amounted to 86.45%. Crossbred animals had stronger wool and amounted to 10,12 sN/Tekx or 23.3% stronger compared to purebred rams. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of blood biochemistry.

The results of studying wool productivity and wool quality, as well as the hematological status of 9-monthold Dagestan mountain rams with different levels of selenium in the diets are shown. The addition of organic selenium (DAFS-25) in the amount of 12 mg/head contributed to an increase in the shear of clean wool in animals by 0.31 kg or 22.8%, fineness and strength of wool fibers. In the blood of rams, the number of erythrocytes, total protein and glucose increased, and the amount of urea decreased.

DAFS-25k and “Ioddar-Zn” feed additives to the main diet, the advantage over the control group of animals in live weight was 5.2 kg or 13.2% (P> 0.999). Enrichment of diets with organic forms of selenium and iodine in the composition of feed additives allows to reliably increase the growth and development of rams and is promising in the technology of pasture raising of rams.

The study of the effect of protected carbamide in sheep nutrition is an urgent area of research in the field of animal husbandry. The article presents the materials of a scientific experiment aimed at developing norms for feeding “protected” urea as part of compound feeds for sheep of the meat and wool production line during lactation. Studies have established that the inclusion of compound feeds enriched with “protected” carbamide in the diets of lactating sheep contributed to an increase in economically useful signs and had a positive effect on the qualitative and quantitative indicators of milk. It was revealed that the amount of fat in the milk of animals of the experimental groups increased by 0.04 and 0.14 abs.%, protein – 0.02 and 0.05 abs.%, lactose – 0.04 and 0.11 abs.%. The caloric content of 100 g of milk increased by 0.65 and 1.91 Kcal, respectively.

Intensive growth of lambs was recorded during the suckling period, due to high indicators of milk productivity and milk quality in sheep of experimental groups.

The paper presents the results of a study of mineral and vitamin supplements of Minerol, K-selenium and eleovite to sheep, contained in conditions of increased concentration of heavy metals, contributed to an increase in the content of total protein and globulin fraction proteins, an increase in the concentration of ceruloplasmin and a decrease in malondialdehyde.

 The article is devoted to the issues of increasing the productivity of sheep and goats, reducing heat stress. Sheep adapt well to sudden temperature fluctuations, but at the same time need certain conditions to maintain health and productivity.

 The quality of goat milk depends on various factors. When goats were infected with mulleriosis (EI = 62,8%), it was found that after deworming with fenbendazole containing a drug, no deviations in organoleptic indicators were detected, a significant increase in the mass fraction of fat by 12,2%, a mass fraction of protein by 69,2% and a decrease density by 1,6% compared to the control group.