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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Y Chromosome Haplotypes Enlighten Origin, Influence, and Bre...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(19); doi: 10.3390/ani12192579

Y Chromosome Haplotypes Enlighten Origin, Influence, and Breeding History of North African Barb Horses.

Abstract: In horses, demographic patterns are complex due to historical migrations and eventful breeding histories. Particularly puzzling is the ancestry of the North African horse, a founding horse breed, shaped by numerous influences throughout history. A genetic marker particularly suitable to investigate the paternal demographic history of populations is the non-recombining male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY). Using a recently established horse MSY haplotype (HT) topology and KASP™ genotyping, we illustrate MSY HT spectra of 119 Barb and Arab-Barb males, collected from the Maghreb region and European subpopulations. All detected HTs belonged to the Crown haplogroup, and the broad MSY spectrum reflects the wide variety of influential stallions throughout the breed's history. Distinct HTs and regional disparities were characterized and a remarkable number of early introduced lineages were observed. The data indicate recent refinement with Thoroughbred and Arabian patrilines, while 57% of the dataset supports historical migrations between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. In the Barb horse, we detected the HT linked to Godolphin Arabian, one of the Thoroughbred founders. Hence, we shed new light on the question of the ancestry of one Thoroughbred patriline. We show the strength of the horse Y chromosome as a genealogical tool, enlighten recent paternal history of North African horses, and set the foundation for future studies on the breed and the formation of conservation breeding programs.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-27 PubMed ID: 36230320PubMed Central: PMC9559282DOI: 10.3390/ani12192579Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research focuses on understanding the ancestry of the North African horse, particularly the Barb Horse, by studying specific markers on the Y chromosome. This is done using a recently established horse MSY haplotype topology and KASP™ genotyping. The findings shed light on the breeding history of the horses and the influence of stallions over time. They also help answer questions about the ancestry of one Thoroughbred patriline and prepare groundwork for future studies and conservation breeding programs.

Objective of the research

  • The primary objective of the study was to investigate the paternal demographic history of the North African horse, specifically focusing on the Barb breed. They chose to study the non-recombining male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY), which is an ideal genetic marker for such investigations.

Methods used

  • The scientists used a horse MSY haplotype (HT) topology that was recently established alongside KASP™ genotyping. This involved collecting genetic samples from 119 Barb and Arab-Barb males from the Maghreb region and European subpopulations.

Results and findings

  • The research revealed that all detected haplotypes belonged to the Crown haplogroup. It found a wide spectrum in the MSY, indicating a range of influential stallions throughout the breed’s history.
  • Distinct haplotypes and regional disparities were characterized. A notable number of early-introduced lineages were observed.
  • The data suggested a recent refinement of the breed with Thoroughbred and Arabian patrilines. However, more than half (57%) of the data set reaffirms historical migrations between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
  • The researchers identified the same haplotype in the Barb Horse that is linked to the Godolphin Arabian, one of the founders of the Thoroughbred breed. This finding adds to our understanding of the ancestry of Thoroughbred patriline.

Implications

  • This research demonstrates the effectiveness of the horse Y chromosome as a genealogical tool to study the history of horse breeds – especially in terms of paternal influence.
  • The study illuminates the recent paternal history of the North African horses and lays the foundation for future investigations into the breed.
  • The findings from this study can help form effective conservation breeding programs targeted at preserving the unique genetic lines of the Barb Horse and other North African horse breeds.

Cite This Article

APA
Radovic L, Remer V, Krcal C, Rigler D, Brem G, Rayane A, Driss K, Benamar M, Machmoum M, Piro M, Krischke D, Butler-Wemken IV, Wallner B. (2022). Y Chromosome Haplotypes Enlighten Origin, Influence, and Breeding History of North African Barb Horses. Animals (Basel), 12(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192579

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 19

Researcher Affiliations

Radovic, Lara
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
  • Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Remer, Viktoria
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Krcal, Carina
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Rigler, Doris
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Brem, Gottfried
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Rayane, Ahmed
  • World Barb Horse Organization O.M.C.B., Organisation Mondiale Du Cheval Barbe, 148 Avenue de l'ALN Caroubier Hussein Dey Alger, Algiers 16000, Algeria.
Driss, Khadija
  • Tunisian Horse Breeding Organization F.N.A.R.C., Foundation Nationale pour l´Amélioration de la Race Chevaline, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia.
Benamar, Malak
  • Royal Horse Breeding Association SOREC, Société Royale d´Encouragement Du Cheval, Haras Regional la Kasbah de Bouznika, B. P. 52, Bouznika 13100, Morocco.
Machmoum, Mohamed
  • Veterinary Genetic Laboratory, Hassan II, Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, B. P. 6202, Rabat 10101, Morocco.
Piro, Mohammed
  • Veterinary Genetic Laboratory, Hassan II, Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, B. P. 6202, Rabat 10101, Morocco.
Krischke, Diana
  • Barb Horse Breeding Organization VFZB e. V., Verein der Freunde und Züchter des Berberpferdes e.V., Kirchgasse 11, 67718 Schmalenberg, Germany.
  • Department of Animal Breeding, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstr. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
Butler-Wemken, Ines von
  • Barb Horse Breeding Organization VFZB e. V., Verein der Freunde und Züchter des Berberpferdes e.V., Kirchgasse 11, 67718 Schmalenberg, Germany.
Wallner, Barbara
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data; in the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.

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