Margaret C

Dr Tom Lewis, a Post Doctoral Quantitative Geneticist gave a presentation on inherited diseases and breeding strategies in Cavaliers.

Concerns in our breed

1. MVD
2. CMSM
3. Single gene disorders (Dry eye/curly coat, episodic falling )
4. Future viability of the breed.

Mate Select will use:

i. EBVs of disease
ii. DNA test results
iii. Coefficients of Inbreeding / kinship

Key benefits of EBVs

EBVs are estimated genetic liabilities of disease ( what a dog is born with, not what is caused by environmental conditions )

They are more accurate than observed disease status (phenotype)
They are available from birth
EBVs are available for all dogs in population
They can be used to track genetic progress.

Some results so far

There is a high heritability of premature MVD – 0.67
SM is heritable – 0.37

Dr Lewis said that the rate of data submission has slowed. They have only received 500 MRI records and they need 2000.

DNA regions for curly coat and episodic falling have been found.

Inbreeding is a problem because there is a higher risk that two copies of a mutant gene will be inherited

Popular sire effect

Genetic diversity erosion is primarily due to populat sires, where cavaliers end up with common ancestor on both sides of pedigree.

25% 0f the cavalier population is sired by 5% of sires

The Mate Select tool will be part of the KC’s online services

It will balance selection and genetic diversity.

By puting in the dog details we will be able to get the result from a COI calculator.
We will be able to find the EBVs for individual dogs.
We can enter a shortlist of potential sires and get the dogs ranked according to lowest projected inbreeding and/or genetic diversity and genetic risk of disease

Where do we go from here
Work is well under way for genetic evaluation of diseases in CKCS.
Indicators of genetic diversity ready for public release.
information from DNA tests can be incorporated.
More data needed from Breeders to produce best estimates.

It has been confirmed that information on individual dogs can be given out. The Data Protection Act applies to people not to animals.