Genomic Characterization of the Three Balkan Livestock Guardian Dogs

Mateja Janeš, Minja Zorc, Maja Ferenčaković, Ino Curik, Peter Dovč and Vlatka Cubric-Curik
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Mateja Janeš: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Minja Zorc: Biotechnical Faculty Department of Animal Science, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Maja Ferenčaković: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ino Curik: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Peter Dovč: Biotechnical Faculty Department of Animal Science, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Vlatka Cubric-Curik: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Balkan Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) were bred to help protect sheep flocks in sparsely populated, remote mountainous areas in the Balkans. The aim of this study was genomic characterization (107,403 autosomal SNPs) of the three LGD breeds from the Balkans (Karst Shepherd, Sharplanina Dog, and Tornjak). Our analyses were performed on 44 dogs representing three Balkan LGD breeds, as well as on 79 publicly available genotypes representing eight other LGD breeds, 70 individuals representing seven popular breeds, and 18 gray wolves. The results of multivariate, phylogenetic, clustering (STRUCTURE), and FST differentiation analyses showed that the three Balkan LGD breeds are genetically distinct populations. While the Sharplanina Dog and Tornjak are closely related to other LGD breeds, the Karst Shepherd is a slightly genetically distinct population with estimated influence from German Shepard (Treemix analysis). Estimated genomic diversity was high with low inbreeding in Sharplanina Dog (Ho = 0.315, He = 0.315, and FROH>2Mb = 0.020) and Tornjak (Ho = 0.301, He = 0.301, and FROH>2Mb = 0.033) breeds. Low diversity and high inbreeding were estimated in Karst Shepherds (Ho = 0.241, He = 0.222, and FROH>2Mb = 0.087), indicating the need for proper diversity management. The obtained results will help in the conservation management of Balkan LGD dogs as an essential part of the specific grazing biocultural system and its sustainable maintenance.

Keywords: canine; livestock guardian dogs; conservation management; genomic diversity and characterization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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