Genomic diversity and population structure analysis reveal few genetic differences among Ethiopian indigenous sheep populations

African sheep, like other domestic sheep, are domesticated from the Asiatic mouflon (Ovis orientalis). They entered the continent through the North and the Horn of Africa regions following maritime and terrestrial trading routes. Ethiopia is one of the main entry points of various plant and animal domesticates into Africa. It is characterised by diverse agro-ecologies, ancient human ethnic diversity and the presence of indigenous sheep breeds/populations of unprecedented morphological diversity (e.g. tail types). Here, we investigate the genome diversity and population structure of 146 unrelated animals from 11 Ethiopian indigenous sheep populations. DNA was extracted from ear tissue punche…