Y Chromosome Haplotypes Enlighten Origin, Influence, and Breeding History of North African Barb Horses
Lara Radovic,
Viktoria Remer,
Carina Krcal,
Doris Rigler,
Gottfried Brem,
Ahmed Rayane,
Khadija Driss,
Malak Benamar,
Mohamed Machmoum,
Mohammed Piro,
Diana Krischke,
Ines von Butler-Wemken,
Barbara Wallner
Affiliations
Lara Radovic
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Viktoria Remer
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Carina Krcal
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Doris Rigler
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Gottfried Brem
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Ahmed Rayane
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
Khadija Driss
Tunisian Horse Breeding Organization F.N.A.R.C., Foundation Nationale pour l´Amélioration de la Race Chevaline, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
Malak Benamar
Royal Horse Breeding Association SOREC, Société Royale d´Encouragement Du Cheval, Haras Regional la Kasbah de Bouznika, B. P. 52, Bouznika 13100, Morocco
Mohamed Machmoum
Veterinary Genetic Laboratory, Hassan II, Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, B. P. 6202, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Mohammed Piro
Veterinary Genetic Laboratory, Hassan II, Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, B. P. 6202, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Diana Krischke
Barb Horse Breeding Organization VFZB e. V., Verein der Freunde und Züchter des Berberpferdes e.V., Kirchgasse 11, 67718 Schmalenberg, Germany
Ines von Butler-Wemken
Barb Horse Breeding Organization VFZB e. V., Verein der Freunde und Züchter des Berberpferdes e.V., Kirchgasse 11, 67718 Schmalenberg, Germany
Barbara Wallner
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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.
