Indicators of genetic erosion in an endangered population: the Alentejana cattle breed in Portugal N. Carolino and L. T. Gama J Anim Sci published online Aug 20, 2007;
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Journal of Animal Science
Running head: Genetic erosion in Alentejana cattle
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Indicators of genetic erosion in an endangered population:
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the Alentejana cattle breed in Portugal1
7 8 9 N. Carolino* and L. T. Gama *
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Estação Zootécnica Nacional, Fonte Boa, 2005-048 Vale de Santarém, Portugal
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1300 Lisboa, Portugal
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The authors thank the “Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos da Raça Alentejana” for
providing the data used in this study. 2
Corresponding author:
[email protected]; Telephone: +351-243767382; Fax:
+351-243767307
1 Downloaded from jas.fass.org by onas Maydoi:10.2527/jas.2007-0148 14, 2011. Published Online First on August 20, 2007
Journal of Animal Science
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ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to characterize genetic diversity in the Alentejana breed of
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cattle based on its demographic trends and to investigate the major factors affecting genetic
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erosion in this breed. Herdbook information collected between 1940 and 2004, including
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pedigree records on 100,562 animals in 155 herds, was used to estimate demographic
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parameters. The mean generation intervals were 6.0 ± 2.4 yr and 6.8 ± 3.2 yr for sires and dams
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of calves, respectively. Average inbreeding increased steadily over the period analyzed, with an
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annual rate of inbreeding of 0.33 ± 0.004% (P