Abstract: Bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA (BMPR-IA) gene was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of sheep. Single nucleotide polymorphism of BMPR-IA gene was detected in both high fecundity breeds (Small Tailed Han sheep and Hu sheep) and low fecundity breeds (Dorset sheep, Texel sheep and German Mutton Merino sheep) by PCR-SSCP. Results indicated that both AA and AB genotypes were detected in Small Tailed Han sheep. Only BB genotype was detected in Hu sheep. Only AA genotype was detected in Dorset sheep, Texel sheep and German Mutton Merino sheep. In Small Tailed Han sheep, frequency of A allele was 0.964, frequency of B allele was 0.036 Sequencing revealed six single nucleotide mutations in the BB genotype in comparison to the AA genotype. The BMPR-IA genotype distributions were high significantly different (P<0.001) between Hu sheep and Small Tailed Han sheep. The BMPR-IA genotype distributions were high significantly different (P<0.001) between Hu sheep and low fecundity breeds. The BMPR-IA genotype distributions were not different (P>0.05) between Small Tailed Han sheep and low fecundity breeds. The ewes with genotype AB had 0.15 (P>0.05) lambs more than those with genotype AA in Small Tailed Han sheep. These results preliminarily showed that BMPR-IA gene was not a major gene for high fecundity of Small Tailed Han sheep and Hu sheep.