Mitochondrial Whole D-Loop Variability in Polish Draft Horses of Sztumski Subtype

Simple Summary The Polish draft horse (PDH) breed is a result of crossing local mares with imported cold-blooded stallions. In this study, we investigate the genetic composition of the PDH by analyzing whole mitochondrial d-loop variabilities and comparing these variabilities to previously demonstrated whole d-loop sequences of other cold-blooded breeds: Ardennais, Belgian, Breton, Clydesdale, Noriker, Norwegian Fjord, Percheron, and Suffolk. Our results show high nucleotide diversity among the PDH population and the existence of two main haplogroups with strong kinship to the Belgian breed. The Polish draft horse (PDH) breed is a result of crossing local mares with imported cold-blooded stallions, such as Belgians, Ardennes, Fjords, and others. A part of the broodmare stock investigated in this study was also imported from various countries, such as Denmark. In this study, we investigate the genetic composition of the PDH by analyzing the whole mitochondrial d-loop variability and comparing it to previously demonstrated whole d-loop sequences of other cold-blooded breeds: Ardennais, Belgian, Breton, Clydesdale, Noriker, Norwegian Fjord, Percheron, and Suffolk. Our results show high nucleotide diversity within the PDH population (pi = 0.011), and the existence of two main haplogroups: one of relatively concise origin, with strong kinship to the Belgian breed, and the second showing close relation to the majority of other analyzed cold-blooded breeds. Some of the PDH maternal strains clustered separately, which can be a result of the influence of other unidentified breeds that served as a foundation stock for the present population. This present study explains the genetic relationship of the PDH to other cold-blooded breeds and indicates the high genetic diversity of the breed.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the genetic composition of the Polish draft horse (PDH) breed by analyzing whole mitochondrial d-loop variabilities and comparing them to sequences of other cold-blooded breeds. Our results showed high nucleotide diversity among the PDH population and the existence of two main haplogroups with strong kinship to the Belgian breed.