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Inheritance of goat coat colors
S Adalsteinsson1, D P Sponenberg, S Alexieva
1Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Norway, Aas.
The Journal of Heredity
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Goat color genetics reveal 11 Agouti locus alleles controlling 10 distinct coat patterns. White or tan is dominant, while nonagouti is the most recessive allele, impacting cashmere production traits.
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Coat Color Inheritance
- Livestock Breeding
Background:
- Goat coat color is a heritable trait influenced by multiple genes.
- Understanding color genetics is crucial for livestock breeding and trait selection, particularly in cashmere production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic basis of goat coat color variation.
- To identify and characterize alleles at the Agouti locus responsible for observed color patterns.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic analysis of coat color in 218 goat kids and their parents.
- Genetic modeling to postulate alleles and their dominance relationships at the Agouti locus.
Main Results:
- Ten distinct goat color patterns were observed.
- A model with 11 alleles at the Agouti locus was proposed, including a dominant white or tan allele (A(wt)) and a recessive nonagouti allele (Aa).
- Two eumelanin pigment types (black and light brown) were observed, with light brown being dominant.
Conclusions:
- The Agouti locus plays a significant role in determining goat coat color patterns.
- The proposed allelic series provides a framework for understanding goat color inheritance.
- Further research can explore the association of specific color patterns with cashmere fiber characteristics.