COI
An animal’s Inbreeding Coefficient (Wright’s Coefficient, or, COI or F)
The coefficient of inbreeding of animals (Wright's coefficient or COI or F) is a numerical value that responds to the presence of common ancestors on both the mother and father sides of a puppy's pedigree.
The inbreeding coefficient is expressed as a percentage. The more common the ancestors are in a pedigree, the closer they are in the generations of descendants, the higher the inbreeding coefficient of that descendant.
The inbreeding statistic coefficient ranges along a continuum from 0% to 100%. Every individual falls somewhere on this spectrum. What does it all mean? Let’s examine some common values and how to use and interpret them.
ZERO PERCENT means that there is no evidence of common ancestry in the dog's gene sequence data, and therefore no inbreeding.
If you took two unrelated dogs and bred them, and then bred a brother-sister pair from the resulting litter, the inbreeding coefficient would be 25%.
You would end up with even higher numbers if the sire and dam were distantly related.
If you took two unrelated dogs and bred them, and then bred a brother-sister pair from the resulting litter, the inbreeding coefficient would be 25%.
You would end up with even higher numbers if the sire and dam were distantly related.
On average, mixed breed dogs have an inbreeding coefficient of around 5%.
This is not always the case; mixed breed dogs bred together can result in puppies with high COI, similar to purebreds.
This is not always the case; mixed breed dogs bred together can result in puppies with high COI, similar to purebreds.
The average COI for purebred dogs is ~20%.
In specific breeds, this value can be higher or lower than this value.
In some breeds, the average inbreeding coefficient can approach or even exceed 40%.
Because these are averages, individual COI can vary.
For example, some breeding lines may have more genetic diversity than others.
In specific breeds, this value can be higher or lower than this value.
In some breeds, the average inbreeding coefficient can approach or even exceed 40%.
Because these are averages, individual COI can vary.
For example, some breeding lines may have more genetic diversity than others.
It’s worth noting that zoo-based species conservation programs have set a target COI of 10%.
That is, they want to design breeding programs that keep inbreeding levels at or below that level.
While this metric is somewhat arbitrary, it can be useful for comparing the consequences of inbreeding between pairs.
That is, they want to design breeding programs that keep inbreeding levels at or below that level.
While this metric is somewhat arbitrary, it can be useful for comparing the consequences of inbreeding between pairs.
Source: Dog Aging Project
AVK
AVK is the German abbreviation for AhnenVerlust-Koeffizient, which means „ancestor loss factor”.
The goal is to measure the number of ancestors that appear multiple times in a five-generation pedigree.
If each ancestor is unique, the AVK is 100%.
However, if there has been line breeding in the past, the value will be lower.
After completing all five generations, there are 62 animals in the pedigree.
If each ancestor is unique, the AVK is 100%.
However, if there has been line breeding in the past, the value will be lower.
After completing all five generations, there are 62 animals in the pedigree.
Let's say that two animals appear twice in the pedigree, then there are 62 – 2 = 60 unique animals left.
The calculation is: 60 divided by 62 multiplied by 100.
So in this case the AVK is 96.77%.
The calculation is: 60 divided by 62 multiplied by 100.
So in this case the AVK is 96.77%.
An AVK of less than 100% always indicates that the animal's pedigree has been inbred, but it is not possible to determine whether the inbreeding is in the animal itself or in one or more of its ancestors. An animal's AVK is therefore not necessarily related to the animal's inbreeding coefficient, but may be related to its ancestors.
The ideal AVK is 100%.
A low ancestry loss rate shows that the same individuals are often repeated in the pedigree.
A low ancestry loss rate shows that the same individuals are often repeated in the pedigree.
Source: ZooEasy
Mean Kinship
What is kinship?
Relatedness indicates the degree to which two animals are genetically similar.
When two parents have children, each passes on 50% of their genes to their child.
So the animal is 50% related to its father and 50% to its mother.
Genes are passed down from generation to generation.
The relationship coefficient is calculated by using the pedigree.
The following percentages apply if the parents are not related to each other.
If they are, the percentages are higher:
When two parents have children, each passes on 50% of their genes to their child.
So the animal is 50% related to its father and 50% to its mother.
Genes are passed down from generation to generation.
The relationship coefficient is calculated by using the pedigree.
The following percentages apply if the parents are not related to each other.
If they are, the percentages are higher:
- Identical twins: 100%
- Full Sibling: 50%
- Descendant and older: 50%
- Half-sibling: 25%
- Descendant and Grandparent: 25%
- Uncle or aunt and cousin: 25%
- „Double” cousin: 25%
- „Single” cousin: 12.5%
- Descendant and great-grandfather: 12.5%
- No relationship: 0%
In the case of double cousins, fathers are full brothers and mothers are full sisters.
In the case of a single cousin, two of the four parents are full brothers or sisters.
In the case of a single cousin, two of the four parents are full brothers or sisters.
Source: ZooEasy
