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Genetic diversity and measures to reduce inbreeding in Friesian Horses
ABSTRACT: The pedigree structure of the Friesian horse breed was analysed with the purpose to characterise inbreeding with special emphasis on the recent period in which measures to reduce inbreeding were taken. Measures taken consisted of a mating quota to breeding stallions and calculating individual kinship coefficients with a reference population. Since 2000 the inbreeding rate is steadily decreasing from 0.018 to about 0.0065 during the years 2010-2012 and is preceded by a reduction of additive genetic relationship. This reduction coincide with the period in which the taken measures to reduce inbreeding became effective. Additionally, individual kinship coefficients have been compared to the estimated genetic contributions under application of optimal contribution theory. It was concluded that individual kinship coefficients are a reasonable approximation to genetic contributions to infer the impact of breeding animals on maintaining genetic diversity.
Keywords:
horse
inbreeding
genetic contribution
