Genomic Prediction and Genome-Wide Association Studies of Morphological Traits and Distraction Index in Korean Sapsaree Dogs

This study on Korean Sapsaree dogs evaluated the accuracy of breeding values for traits like body height, body length, chest width, hair length, and distraction index (DI) using genomic prediction methods and a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Data from 378 dogs, with 234 genotyped, revealed heritability estimates ranging from 0.32 to 0.55 for these traits. The accuracy of genomic predictions varied, with the single-step GBLUP method showing the highest range (0.39 to 0.67). GWAS identified 194 significant SNPs and several candidate genes, such as CCKAR and DCAF16 for body height, and RSPO2 and EXT1 for hair length. These findings highlight the potential of using significant QTL and candidate genes to enhance the genetic quality of the Sapsaree breed, supporting more effective breeding strategies for this culturally significant dog.