The Massey University research team behind the Right Dog for the Job project has analyzed the DNA of 249 working farm dogs, mostly from Pāmu (Landcorp Farming Ltd) farms. This is New Zealand’s first genetic study of working farm dogs, aiming to identify genetic variants linked to disease. The goal is to improve breeding strategies and enhance the health of working dogs.
So far, the team has genome-sequenced 130 huntaways, 104 heading dogs, and 15 mixed breeds. They examined 400 known genetic mutations previously identified in other dog breeds. The researchers found 27 genetic variants present in New Zealand farm dogs, including five that could cause serious inherited health problems.
This study lays important groundwork for breeding healthier dogs better suited to their demanding farm roles.
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