title: Merging pedigree databases to describe and compare mating practices and gene flow between pedigree dogs in France, Sweden and the UK.
abstract: Merging pedigree databases across countries may improve the ability of kennel organizations to monitor genetic variability and health-related issues of pedigree dogs. We used data provided by the Société Centrale Canine (France), Svenska Kennelklubben (Sweden) and the Kennel Club (UK) to study the feasibility of merging pedigree databases across countries and describe breeding practices and international gene flow within the following four breeds: Bullmastiff (BMA), English setter (ESE), Bernese mountain dog (BMD) and Labrador retriever (LBR). After merging the databases, genealogical parameters and founder contributions were calculated according to the birth period, breed and registration country of the dogs. Throughout the investigated period, mating between close relatives, measured as the proportion of inbred individuals (considering only two generations of pedigree), decreased or remained stable, with the exception of LBR in France. Gene flow between countries became more frequent, and the origins of populations within countries became more diverse over time. In conclusion, the potential to reduce inbreeding within purebred dog populations through exchanging breeding animals across countries was confirmed by an improved effective population size when merging populations from different countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.|Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, AgroParisTech, Paris, France.|Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Paris, INRA, Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, AgroParisTech, Paris, France.|Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Paris, INRA, Paris, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.affiliation: Swedish Kennel Club, Spånga, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.affiliation: The Kennel Club, London, UK.|School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5154-8146
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strandberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: W F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0578-0184
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fikse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001947:Breeding; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004285:Dogs / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Breeding practice; dog; gene flow; genetic variability; merging pedigree databases