Abstract
Mannara dogs have long been bred in Sicily (Italy) to work alongside shepherds as flock guardians. This study provides a morphologic, genealogic, and genomic characterisation of the Mannara dog, useful in light of its recognition process and to improve the breed standard. Morphologic measurements of body, head, and chest were taken on 111 adult Mannara dogs. The whole population pedigree was used to calculate the inbreeding coefficient (F) and five effective population size (Ne) parameters. Twelve Mannara dogs were genotyped using the Canine 230 K SNP BeadChips and compared with Maremma sheepdog, Caucasian shepherd dog, Cane Corso Italiano, and Neapolitan mastiff for population structure, heterozygosity, and runs of homozygosity. The morphometric evaluation showed that Mannara dogs generally accords with the provisional standard and can be classified as a large/giant, meso-dolicomorphic, and mesocephalic breed. The population consists of 375 individuals, one third of which are founders and the remaining belong to 58 litters; presenting low inbreeding (F = 0.7%) and balanced sires and dams. The Ne estimates range widely: two (NeN=159 and NeFi=50) exceed the FCI limit for breed recognition and one (NeCi=25) did not. Genetically, all the included populations are well distinct, with the Maremma sheepdog being the nearest to the Mannara dog. Five Mannara have a single ancestral component, while the others show higher admixed proportions. The genomic inbreeding and heterozygosity confirm the good management of the breed. Our analyses suggest that the Mannara breed should continue the recognition process, pivotal to preserving an invaluable canine resource for the Sicilian agriculture. Highlights The morphometric measurements of Mannara dogs generally accords with the provisional standard. The pedigree analysis reveals that the population is well managed and meets the criteria for FCI recognition. The Mannara dog presents a unique genomic background.
Highlights
Boasts a great wealth of local dog breeds
Seventeen of these are officially recognised by National Agency of Italian kennel club (ENCI) and Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI); others are in the process of being recognised, like the Oropa dog in Piedmont, the Lessina and Lagorai sheepdog in Triveneto, the Apuan Alps dog in Tuscany, the Fonni’s dog in Sardinia, the Sila sheepdog in Calabria, and the Mannara dog, called Sicilian Mastiff, in Sicily
A total of 111 adult Mannara dogs, 60 males and 51 females, were measured and evaluated during the official meetings to be enrolled in the additional Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) studbook for the dog breeds with limited diffusion, called Open Additional Register (RSA)
Summary
Boasts a great wealth of local dog breeds. Seventeen of these are officially recognised by National Agency of Italian kennel club (ENCI) and Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI); others are in the process of being recognised, like the Oropa dog in Piedmont, the Lessina and Lagorai sheepdog in Triveneto, the Apuan Alps dog in Tuscany, the Fonni’s dog in Sardinia, the Sila sheepdog in Calabria, and the Mannara dog, called Sicilian Mastiff, in Sicily.Mastiff-type dogs, likely ancestors of the Mannara dog, have been in Sicily since ancient times, probably as early as the Bronze age, as shown by the finding of bones in archaeological sites. Boasts a great wealth of local dog breeds. Seventeen of these are officially recognised by National Agency of Italian kennel club (ENCI) and Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI); others are in the process of being recognised, like the Oropa dog in Piedmont, the Lessina and Lagorai sheepdog in Triveneto, the Apuan Alps dog in Tuscany, the Fonni’s dog in Sardinia, the Sila sheepdog in Calabria, and the Mannara dog, called Sicilian Mastiff, in Sicily. Mastiff-type dogs, likely ancestors of the Mannara dog, have been in Sicily since ancient times, probably as early as the Bronze age, as shown by the finding of bones in archaeological sites. Marmetines arrived in Sicily between the end of 4th
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