Intra-line and inter-line genetic diversity in sire lines of the Old Kladruber horse based on microsatellite analysis of DNA

The Old Kladruber horse is the oldest original Czech horse breed – gene resource, with pedigree records spanning three centuries. Because the population is closed, there is a concern about the loss of genetic variation. The genetic diversity within and amongst sire lines was evaluated using microsatellite markers and based on pedigree information. The DNA analysis, covering 16 microsatellite loci, revealed that the genetic diversity (observed heterozygosity = 0.637, genetic diversity = 0.678 and the mean number of alleles = 8.25) for the Old Kladruber horse is consistent with other populations of horses. Inter-line genetic difference in sire lines reached the mean value (the F_ST values ranged from 0.020 to 0.017). Differences amongst the sire lines were identified using genetic distances and principal component analysis. One gene cluster comprised black variation sire lines, while the second cluster included the sire lines of the grey variation. In the subjects monitored, the average inbreeding coefficient of 0.076 was estimated on the basis of pedigree information. The highest mean values of the coefficient of relationship were estimated within the colour variations. When comparing the genetic distance and the average coefficient of relationship, differences were found out. These results are useful for the development of breeding strategies which consider classical horse breeding as well as recent achievements of population and conservation genetics.

Coefficients of relationship and inbreeding among Finnish Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian

Pedigree data from national breeding value evaluations were used in calculation of the coefficient and rate of inbreeding, average coefficient and rate of relationship and generation intervals for the Finnish Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle populations. The data had 1,366,555 Ayrshire and 377,869 Holstein-Friesian animals. The mean coefficient of inbreeding for Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian animals born in the 1990s was 2.29% and 0.90%, respectively, and the trend was towards higher inbreeding values. The average coefficient of relationship, mean increase in inbreeding and generation interval was calculated for bulls born between 1976 and 1999, and for cows born between 1986 and 1999. The mean coefficient of relationship of Ayrshire bulls increased 2.22 %-units per generation and inbreeding increased 0.20 %-units per generation during the years studied. The mean coefficient of relationship of Finnish Holstein-Friesian bulls increased 0.96 %-units per generation and inbreeding 0.17 %-units per generation. The mean coefficient of relationship and inbreeding of Ayrshire cows increased 0.38 %-units and 0.31 %-units per generation, respectively. For Holstein-Friesian cows the mean coefficient of relationship and inbreeding increased 0.25 %-units and 0.11 %-units per generation, respectively. Results show that inbreeding is low and it is increasing slowly in both breeds. However, especially the coefficients of relationship of Ayrshire bulls are high in some age classes and this may lead into faster increase in coefficients of inbreeding.;

Genetische Analyse der Population des Hinterwälder Rindes

Title of the paper: Genetic analysis of the population of Hinterwald cattle Since 1994 the Hinterwald population is devided into one of dairy cows and one of suckling cows. The bulls are available to both subpopulations. By means of herdbook records of the year of 2002 there were gained 79 bulls, 698 dairy cows and 517 suckling cows. Considering five generations of ancestors the subpopulations have been investigated with regard to genetic contribution, generation intervals, and circumstances of relationship and inbreeding. The average percentage of Hinterwald blood in the current population amounts to 97 %. The genetic portions of other breeds are low and mostly originating from Vorderwald cattle. The mean generation interval (parents–current animals) is about 5 years. Between the sires and current animals it is shorter (about 4 years) than between the dams and the current animals (about 7 years). The average coefficient of relationship among the bulls is the highest (3.7 %) compared to the dairy cows (2.2 %) and the suckling cows (0.9 %). The mean degree of inbreeding is 1.2 up to 1.3 %, and 37 % of the bulls, 57 % of the dairy cows and 74 % of the suckling cows are not inbred. The increase of inbreeding is rather low and doesn’t surmount 0.7 % in all subpopulations. Therefore it can be assumed that the Hinterwald cattle at present is not subjected to any danger of inbreeding.

THE HIERARCHICAL GENETIC STRUCTURE OF AN URBAN TOWN, KIDLINGTON, OXFORDSHIRE, EXAMINED BY THE COEFFICIENT OF RELATIONSHIP BY ISONYMY

The surnames of the 3443 males registered to vote in Kidlington in 1977 yield a Coefficient of Relationship by Isonymy of 0·000564 {Ri=Σ(n(n–1))/2 N(N–1), in which n=the number of men of each surname and N=Σn}. Those of the four wards separately average 0·000722. However, if one includes only one male of any one surname in each residence, the values are, respectively, 0·000534 and 0·000535. That is, the only structure seen between the two levels is in the influence of men of the same surname resident in the same house. An analysis of relationship by residence on the same street yields a value of Ri somewhat higher than that for the ward as a whole, however, suggesting that even within a ward there may be a tendency for the house of relatives occasionally to lie close together.

Influence of thoracic conformation and genetics on the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus in Irish setters

Body measurements, history of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), and other data were obtained for 155 Irish setters at the 1994 National Specialty Show. The dogs ranged in age from 6.5 months to 12.4 years (mean+/-standard deviation [SD], 3.6+/-2.6 years); 11 (7%) of the dogs had histories of GDV. Gastric dilatation-volvulus risk increased 33% for each year of age (p of 0.01). Dogs with the deepest thorax relative to width (ratio range, 1.61 to 1.85) had a significantly greater GDV risk than those with the shallowest thorax (ratio range, 1.20 to 1.50); the odds ratio was 8.45; the 95% confidence limits were 1.44 to 49.57; and the p value equaled 0.02. Having a relative (particularly a parent) with GDV also increased GDV risk. Five-generation pedigrees yielded a significantly higher mean coefficient of relationship for the 11 dogs with GDV than for the 11 dogs without GDV.