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

The study on Korean Sapsaree dogs evaluated genomic predictions for traits such as body height, body length, chest width, hair length, and distraction index (DI) using data from 378 dogs, with 234 genotyped. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.32 to 0.55, with the ssGBLUP method showing the highest prediction accuracy (0.39 to 0.67). A genome-wide association study identified 194 significant SNPs linked to these traits, highlighting candidate genes like CCKAR, DCAF16, and BMP4. The findings suggest that genetic factors significantly influence these traits, providing a basis for improving breeding strategies to enhance the genetic quality of the Sapsaree breed. Further validation with larger sample sizes is recommended to support targeted breeding strategies.