Pedigree analysis in White Shorthaired goat: First results

Abstract

Abstract. Pedigree records of 1 682 animals of the White Shorthaired goat in Slovakia were investigated. The reference population was defined as the animals born from 2008 to 2011 with at least one ancestor known in the second ancestral generation (670 animals kept in eight flocks). The numbers of founders (286), ancestors (256), effective founders (73), effective ancestors (45) and founder genome equivalents (32) were assessed. Fifteen ancestors were needed to explain 50 % of genetic variability. Marginal contributions of the ten most influential ancestors varied between 5.45 % and 2.47 % and accounted for 39.8 % of genetic variability. The mean values of inbreeding and co-ancestry were 0.69 % and 1.55 %, respectively. The effective population size was assessed to consist of 182 and 142 individuals, depending whether it was calculated from the individual increase in inbreeding or the individual increase in co-ancestry. The number of maximum generations traced, fully traced generations and equivalent complete generations traced were 5.62, 1.97 and 3.04, respectively. The first, second and third ancestral generation were 100 %, 83 % and 71 % complete, respectively. The completeness decreased to as low as 35 % and 11 % in the fourth and fifth generation. To be able to keep genetic links across generations in touch, the amount of pedigree information needs to be increased. This is a serious requirement for appropriate monitoring and management of genetic relations within the population.