Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: New Zealand (NZ) Huntaway and Heading dogs are working breeds that play active roles on farms across NZ. While these breeds are common in NZ, they are not well-known elsewhere, and little is understood about their genetic make-up. Here, we used whole genome sequencing to provide a comprehensive genomic view of 249 working dogs. As first use of this resource, we report the allele frequencies of provisionally functional variants aggregated from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) database. Of 435 "probably causal" variants, 27 segregated in our sample. Notable examples of disease variants potentially actionable for selection include those in the CUBN, CLN8, SGSH, SOD1, VWF, and VPS13B genes. These findings will enable genetic testing and selection opportunities to help improve the health and performance of future generations of these unique breeds.
Source: Animal Genetics
DOI: 10.1111/age.70042
Authors: Florence Smith, Thomas Lopdell, Melissa Stephen, Millicent Henry, Keren Dittmer, Hayley Hunt, Nick Sneddon, Liam Williams, Jack Rolfe, Dorian Garrick, Mathew D. Littlejohn
Institutions: Massey University, Livestock Improvement Corporation
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,570
Funder: Ministry for Primary Industries
Award: G766659426
OpenAlex ID: W4414327588