Genetic evaluation of the breeding strategy effectiveness for horses of the New Altai breed

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to study the dynamics of the main selected traits in horses of the New Altai breed and the genetic characteristics of the breed. In this paper, the indicators of the main measurements of the body and live weight of horses, depending on gender and region of birth, are analyzed. The main genetic and population parameters of the breed were calculated based on microsatellite DNA loci: the total number of alleles at 17 loci (Na), the average number of alleles per locus (Nv), the level of polymorphism (Ae), observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, coefficients of intrapopulation inbreeding (Fis), genetic similarity (RXY) and genetic distances (DXY). It has been established that the horses of the New Altai breed are characterized by a relatively high level of polymorphism and genetic diversity, both in the breed as a whole and in the context of breeding regions. The high genetic similarity of the New Altai breed with the Russian Heavy Draft and Altai breeds has been revealed. The study of the genetic structure of the breed, the levels of its intra- and inter-population diversity in combination with classical zootechnical assessment methods showed the consistency of the chosen cultivation strategy of the New Altai breed.