Genetic diversity between rahvan (pacing) horses in Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the genetic structures of Rahvan (pacing) horses from 7 different geographical region in Turkey. For this purpose, 17 microsatellite loci were used. Blood or hair root samples were collected from 353 Rahvan horses aging 4 years or older. Also, genetic similarities or differences were investigated between Rahvan, Arabian (n=53) and Thoroughbred (n=51) horses. As a result of genetic analysis, FIS, FIT and FST values of Rahvan horses were calculated as 0.0982, 0.0999 and 0.0019, respectively. According to region (The Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Aegean, Marmara, Eastern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia and Mediterranean Region), observed heterozigosities (Ho) were estimated as 0.718, 0.688, 0.711, 0.719, 0.722, 0.700 and 0.708, respectively. Numbers of alleles of Rahvan, Arabian and Thoroughbred horses were 10.65, 5.18, and 5.00, respectively. Factorial Correspondences Analysis was performed to reveal differences among populations. Rahvan, Arabian and Thoroughbred horses were all clustered as separate groups. Also, structure analysis were given the same results. The results showed that Rahvan horses were similar in all regions in terms of microsatellite loci, but quite different from Arabian and Thoroughbred horses.