DNA–based testing is the most powerful tool for disease management, but the battle against genetic disorders also requires diligence to maintain diversity
How to maintain genetic diversity while reducing disease frequency in pedigree dog?
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute who published an article earlier this year were aimed to answer this question. Encompassing all 215 dog breeds officially recognized by The Kennel Club in the UK, the study carefully lists 396 inherited diseases, provides available methods for the management of those diseases, and offers further specific recommendations for breeders.
Kromfohrländer, a native German breed, is known to have a very limited gene pool and is thus subject to a cross-European breeding project focusing to expand the pool. Given the vulnerable genetic status of the breed, the Finnish Breed Association for Kromfohrländer initiated a project aiming at measuring the genome-wide diversity of the breed in 2013. Several dogs of Central European origin were also recruited for the study.