Amiata Donkey Local Breed: Genetic and Morphological Characterization

The genetic and morphological characterization of the local Amiata donkey breed has been considered. The genetic structure was investigated using information from pedigrees (608 subjects) and using STR markers (18 microsatellite loci were analysed in 50 unrelated individuals), while the morphological structure was investigated through the data reported in the Anagraphic Register (10 scores, evaluated by certifcated experts of the breed and measurements of withers height, chest and cannon circumference). Genealogical analysis reveals that the inbreeding level seems to be rather acceptable, contrary to the expectation for a population that has suffered a severe bottleneck in recent years. However, the lack of genealogical records for a substantial number of individuals may have caused a possible underestimation of the inbreeding coefficient. In fact, a substantial increase in the average inbreeding coefficient is observed in those subjects with the maximum number of traced generations. On the contrary molecular data evidenced an elevated genetic homogeneity. From the point of view of the morphological analysis the presence of two well separate morphological groups and the clean uniformity is evident inside the breedings.