The KC 2010 Breeders Symposium at the RVC Herts.
A very interesting programme awaited us at the symposium, which will be of great value to the serious responsible breeder.
The morning was opened by Dr JEFF SAMPSON who has worked with the KC since 1998 and is now at the KC Genetic centre at the AHT.
He explained that over a 5 year span the knowledge and findings had made great progress into finding answers to queries in dog breeding, and because of this increased information that experts at the AHT have collated this will indeed assist into breeding healthy stock.
They were now working with other established groups and organisations in the fight to help owners and purchasers in having trouble free purchases. He named the AKC – FCI –WUSV-OFA and KC in Europe, along with the Rosalin Population Research, forming a truly international band of researchers.
He also explained as has been mentioned before of the Medical Research, which is also being banded with Veterinary research in many human problems.
He then introduced
DR TOM LEWIS who was lecturing on Estimated Breeding Values (EBV). Who had studied Quantative Genetics under DR MALCOLM WILLIS, as well as the Genome Analysis gaining a Masters Degree?
He has studied problems in both the CKC and the Labrador Ret. He is at present doing a genetic analysis on Hip Dysplasia.
Dr Lewis went on to explain how this would be of assistance to the breeder. This had already been used in farming for the past 20/30 years with reference to Growth/ Beef and Milk Yield.
He referred to Mendel/ Darwin and Ronald Fisher and what genes are and the variations one could expect to see.
In dogs a puppy could have two healthy copies one from the dam and one from the sire, but another could have a healthy gene and a faulty gene or another two faulty genes. Causes could be from Nutrient -Environment- and Disease.
He then showed graphs of hip scores 0-106. The hips could score well on the other hand badly again causes could be Environment- Neo Natal- Feed (diet) exercise all could be a risk to the final result.
EBV can help to estimate genetic liabilities of disease.
He estimated that hereditability could be levelled at 35%, which is in proportion of observable variation made up of variation of the genes involved.
To make this work Phenotype Data is required on a reasonably large and representative proportion of the population of the breed.
Pedigree Information is needed using complex statistics
EBV is more accurate than phenotypes this is available from birth where as the normal procedure can only be explored at a year plus via X-ray.
This procedure will be able to include all the dog population
EBV is continuous thus allowing us 66% of improvement in hip scores due to genetic improvement
Selection of the best 81% animals can also be acquired.
Can EBV change?
The answer is yes under two conditions
1) If more information is available, such as other relatives and clinical records being available, then this will allow more accuracy.
2) This will also allow successful selection against disease. EBV will also see Disease data- Pedigree Information- Genetic Mapping (DNA markers Tests EBV and genetic risks) being available This in turn will see schemes for disease reduction – the level of in breeding and other breeding values, to be available thus breeding a healthier animal.
There will be more effective use of the trait data i.e. Hip D = looseness of joint thus causing more wear and tare and then arthritis. Other consideration should be given to hereditary ability and genetic correlation. This is one of the values for breaking from scoring and using EBV will allow selection to increase the genetic diversity of stock over a few generations.
Collaboration with the named organisations because of the large number of breeders who are using imports and also importing semen for use on bitches in this country.
He announced that he had this week finished information studied on the Labrador and would be starting on the German Shepherd this week.
A very interesting lecture which will be discussed for many months to come.
DR SARAH BLOTT continued on MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY TO LONG TERM HEALTH.
Question put was: What did one wish achieve from a breeding programme, was disease present and how quickly did one wish to eliminate problems without causing problems in the gene pool.
Many pedigrees are IN –BRED. Her approach was to minimise this.
Genetic variation Heterozygous (two the same) One of each Homozygous and Letrozygous, which has variations.
Popular bottlenecks in breeding programme can be caused by the use of popular sires, which is happening today, which in turn is causing breeding problems.
Reduced fertility- sire of litter- quality of semen- Increase in genetic disorders- low birth rate- high juvenile mortality- slow growth rate.
High risk factor for emergence of new inherited disease and long term health problems.
HOW often have we heard reference to these?
What is the long time goal?
Restrain rate of in breeding to no more than 0’5% per generation
If this is not achieved the population fitness will steadily decrease.
POSSIBL APPROACHES.
Minimize kinship matings Increase gene pool by brining in unrelated stock
Equalising the number of males and females used
Optimising genetic contributions allowing best mating and stock used so the lines are strengthened.
This method determines which groups of animals should be selected to insure the rate of in breeding remains low, thus the selection of desirable traits or un-desirable traits can be decided.
Records in the Labrador Retrievers show a Sire who produced 1722 pups in his time at stud and a bitch who had 72 pups in her breeding lifetime.
A good reason to minimise ancestry mating.
Also a good reason to increase the number of unrelated animals used in a breed, thus equalising optimum contributions.
Which animals to be used is another question for every breed is different, thus analysis on a breed is the best approach. This also allows plenty of scope for reducing in breeding.
Tools to do this are by use of the KC Selective Mate and to assist 10- or 11 generation pedigrees will be available.
DR JEFF SAMPSON then spoke on NEW KC DEVELOPMENTS.
Part of the campaign was to build up good relationships with organisations and parties worldwide to improve knowledge and capabilities to improve the health and well being of breeds.
As we already know dogs are under close scrutiny over the last few years. The out come of many of the reviews were not particularly surprising. The development of new tests for inherited diseases is being encouraged researched along with the investigation of inbreeding has had on the population structure of purebred dogs.
They also have a great interest in furthering the use of Estimated Breeding Values. (EBV’s)
Around 60 schemes are being worked on at present and soon the newly developed Genetic Population Structure (MATE SELECT) will be launched. This will be offered via the website and will be tested in December and launched at Crufts by the Animal Health Trust.
The Mate Select Service will list the Health Result Finder and Breed Information Centre.
The KC Data will include in the health Database BVA/KC Health Screening Scheme / DNA for single gene disorders/ Health data Post Box New health Test results and health information on Dogs. Individual Breed Club Survey results/ Breed Specific Health Screening Results/ DNA Test results for Single Gene Disease/ Ebv’s for complex Disease/ the Mate Select programme/ a pedigree Database with Health Test Result finder.
The collection of the data for the KC is not only recording faults but also truths about certain dogs and not rumours about them.
Heart schemes are also being looked at, so like BVA/C Hip and Elbow and Eye
Schemes the true results will be recorded.
Health Data Post Box is there to record such information only provided a Veterinary Health Certificate confirms this is correct.
It was suggested that the KC contact breed clubs so they in turn can contact members for them to give information on their dogs health so more knowledge of lines can be collated.
In our breed it is no longer a secret that many animals bred have well off the pedigrees the same sires and even dams recorded.
An interesting and most informative lecture that proves that the KC is not sitting on their laurels, as some would have it.
Dr CATHRYN MELLERSH spoke then on DNA TESTING FOR INHERITED DISEASE.
DNA Exploring the Genetics of a dog and several inherited diseases worldwide and comparing them with human problems, which will lead to education and communication that is a priority.
DNA is responsible for everyday characteristics of you and your dog that is not determined by environment. (Traits)
The tools available that can locate mutations that are responsible for inherited diseases in the dog are now extremely sophisticated.
Coding DNA (Gene) are specific instructions for a protein.
Pairing is C/ G G/C A/T T/A
30000genes (proteins) are present.
There are 20 different nuclei acids
A T V T W Chromosomes
A mutation is a permanent change to the nucleotide sequence of DNA
1.
The METHODOLOGY (step-by-step use of DNA is collected from Infected cases.
DNA from unaffected animals this is the control. (These need to be of typical age of onset and clear of the condition under investigation)
Emphasis should be on collecting DNA from WELL pheno-type animals.
Included disease can be due to a mixture of both genetic and environment.
2.
A whole Genome scan is carried out from both DNA case samples and controls 172000 genetic markers have been found since this has been done.
The progress since 2009 is really moving forward. The screening of all cases and controls are concordant with genotype. To establish whether affected dogs don’t carry the mutation of the disease researched.
To establish whether healthy dogs carry the mutation but do not suffer with the problem.
Which suggests that the mutation isn’t fully penetrant or on the other hand modifiers exist.
The to estimate frequency of mutation in the Uk dogs and to develop a DNA test.
There were samples collected from 172 Breeds Golden Retrievers were at the top of the list with samples given to further their breed in the better breeding campaign.
6 from the bottom were Gsd’s who have as we know not sent as many samples in as were posted out.
Which also asks the question do we really care?
We hear much talk about being responsible and doing the correct thing for both our breed and purchasers of our great breed but talk appears to be cheap.
Please consider this and help the research by supporting it.
It is at this point FREE.
DONATIONS TO RESEARCH; Thanks to the following ;
Mr Mrs Raymer; Ms Friend- Tuck- Mr De Groot-Ms Williams- Ingram- Hearne –Watson.
Dorothy dorothy-cullum@cermar.co.uk Joyce Ixer 01962 776239
01277 220933
Chris Harvey 01223 208 216 |
