Nguni sheep (Zulu ecotype) genome sequencing

The Zulu sheep is an indigenous fat-tailed ecotype widely kept in the rural areas of southern Africa, valued for its adaptability to harsh environments, tolerance to endemic diseases, and socio-economic importance to smallholder farmers. Despite its significance, there is limited genomic information available for this ecotype, which restricts its inclusion in global sheep genetic improvement programmes and limits conservation planning. This study reports the first de novo whole-genome assembly of the Zulu sheep ecotype. The assembly provides a foundational genomic resource to characterise the genetic diversity, adaptive traits, and evolutionary history of this population. Beyond supporting breed conservation, the genome will facilitate downstream studies on traits of economic and ecological importance, contribute to comparative genomics of indigenous and commercial breeds, and enable the application of genomic tools in breeding strategies tailored to African production systems. The resource is expected to enhance both scientific knowledge and the sustainable utilisation of indigenous sheep genetic resources.