preprints.org > biology and life sciences > animal science, veterinary science and zoology > doi: 10.20944/preprints202311.1551.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 23 November 2023 / Approved: 24 November 2023 / Online: 24 November 2023 (05:43:04 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 6 February 2024 / Approved: 7 February 2024 / Online: 7 February 2024 (08:01:49 CET)

This study genetically identified the coat color in a small wild horses’ population and compared the correspondence with the visual coat color registrations. Individual DNA from 90 Sarcidano horses was used for the genetic assignment of the coat color, to explore the correspondence with the individual form containing phenotypical traits. By genotyping and sequencing analyses of the MC1R exon 1 and ASIP exon 3, e real image of the coat color distribution in this population has been obtained. Surprisingly, once we compared the genetic results with the individual forms reporting the phenotypic data for each subject, a certain degree of non-correspondence between the phenotypic and genetic data, in relation to coat color emerged. Genetic results showed a clear prevalence of the Chestnuts (n=58), a quite large number of Blacks (n=28) and a very small presence of Bays (n=4), whereas phenotypic distribution resulted in 38 Chestnuts, 40 Bays, only 2 Blacks, and 10 Greys (without the possibility of recognizing the true color they carried). Chestnut resulted a very representative coat color, while many horses visually identified as Bays, were genetically Blacks. This discrepancy suggests the importance of a sure coat color identification to ensure an adequate features registration, reliable also to predict the offspring’s coat color.

Sarcidano Horse pigmentation; visual/genetic recording; coat color distribution; offspring’s coat color

Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology

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