Perez-Gutierrez, Luis MiguelPeña Gómez, Alicia De LaArana Montes, María Del Pilar De2024-01-162024-01-162008Pérez‐Gutiérrez, L. M., De la Peña, A., & Arana, P. (2008). Genetic analysis of the Hispano‐Breton heavy horse. Animal Genetics, 39(5), 506-514.0268-914610.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01762.xhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93376Hispano-Breton (HB) is a horse breed with a recent mixed ancestry. It was developed in the 1930s by crossing local mares with Breton draught horses imported from France. Nowadays it is considered to be in a vulnerable situation due to census decline. To genetically characterize the breed and to set up the basis for a conservation programme, we have employed two types of molecular markers: a 347-bp D-loop mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment and 13 microsatellite loci. A representative sample of 53 HB individuals was analysed together with a sample of 40 Pura Raza Española horses for comparison. Both types of markers revealed a high level of genetic diversity in the HB breed, emphasizing the importance of its conservation. The construction of a phylogenetic network with mtDNA sequences including various Iberian breeds and European heavy horses provided an overall picture of the ubiquitous appearance of HB matrilines with respect to other breeds and revealed the singularity of certain HB maternal lineages. Despite the high allelic richness found in HB horses, microsatellite analysis evidenced a certain degree of inbreeding as a consequence of the type of management generally used for local breeds.engjournal article1365-2052https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01762.xrestricted access636.082.11636.1.05575.827ConservationGenetic diversityHeavy horsesHispano-Breton horseMicrosatelliteMitochondrial DNAMamíferosGenética2401.08 Genética Animal