<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The goal of our study was to estimate genetic diversity of Arabian horses from Polish state studs which could have changed due to the extensive use of foreign sires in Polish breeding after 1989. The analysis focused on 1,388 Arabian mares born from 1996 to 2013 in the Białka, Janów Podlaski and Michałów studs. Basic parameters of pedigree, mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analyses were considered in the study. In the pedigree analysis, changes in the gene pool over the years were noted through the considerable increase of contribution of new founders’ genes and the considerable decrease of inbreeding level. The microsatellite analysis confirmed progressive changes in the gene pool but, contrary to expectations, only three new microsatellite alleles were detected, and a decreased level of heterozygosity was observed. In turn, mtDNA analysis showed a stable genetic situation in the studs throughout the period analysed. The results of the analyses present a diverse picture of the population, which is clearly divided into the three subpopulations of Białka, Janów Podlaski and Michałów, although the pictures presented differed depending on the analytical methods used. Genetic differences among the studs should be considered a positive feature of the Polish population. In order to preserve the present level of population genetic diversity, changes in breeding policy are needed that aim to stop the loss of genes of the historical ancestors of Polish Arabian horses.</p>
</abstract>

The goal of our study was to estimate genetic diversity of Arabian horses from Polish state studs which could have changed due to the extensive use of foreign sires in Polish breeding after 1989. The analysis focused on 1,388 Arabian mares born from 1996 to 2013 in the Białka, Janów Podlaski and Michałów studs. Basic parameters of pedigree, mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analyses were considered in the study. In the pedigree analysis, changes in the gene pool over the years were noted through the considerable increase of contribution of new founders’ genes and the considerable decrease of inbreeding level. The microsatellite analysis confirmed progressive changes in the gene pool but, contrary to expectations, only three new microsatellite alleles were detected, and a decreased level of heterozygosity was observed. In turn, mtDNA analysis showed a stable genetic situation in the studs throughout the period analysed. The results of the analyses present a diverse picture of the population, which is clearly divided into the three subpopulations of Białka, Janów Podlaski and Michałów, although the pictures presented differed depending on the analytical methods used. Genetic differences among the studs should be considered a positive feature of the Polish population. In order to preserve the present level of population genetic diversity, changes in breeding policy are needed that aim to stop the loss of genes of the historical ancestors of Polish Arabian horses.

Differences and changes: an evaluation of the genetic diversity of Arabian mares from Polish state studs born between 1996 and 2013

Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology

Department of Evolutionary Genetics and Biosystematics, Faculty of Biology

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The goal of our study was to estimate genetic diversity of Arabian horses from Polish state studs which could have changed due to the extensive use of foreign...

Differences and changes: an evaluation of the genetic diversity of Arabian mares from Polish state studs born between 1996 and 2013

Published Online: Oct 29, 2022

Page range: 1225 - 1233

Received: Jun 14, 2021

Accepted: Mar 24, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0033

Keywords
Arabian horse, genetic diversity, mtDNA, microsatellite, pedigree analysis

© 2022 Iwona Głażewska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Differences and changes: an evaluation of the genetic diversity of Arabian mares from Polish state studs born between 1996 and 2013

Published Online: Oct 29, 2022

Page range: 1225 - 1233

Received: Jun 14, 2021

Accepted: Mar 24, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0033

KeywordsArabian horse, genetic diversity, mtDNA, microsatellite, pedigree analysis

© 2022 Iwona Głażewska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Arabian horse, genetic diversity, mtDNA, microsatellite, pedigree analysis