GENERATION INTERVALS AND INBREEDING COEFFICIENTS IN THE FINNISH HOUNDAND THE FINNISH SPITZ

The population structure of two Finnish hunting dog breeds was examine d, by calculating generation intervals and inbreeding coefficients. Da ta sets consisted of registers, including 84 338 Finnish Hounds and 28 370 Finnish Spitzes. The mean values for paternal generation interval s were 5.8 years in the Hound and 5.7 years in the Spitz. The mean val ues for maternal generation intervals were 5.0 and 4.5 years in the tw o breeds, respectively. The average inbreeding coefficient was 3.12% i n the Finnish Hound and 7.16% in the Finnish Spitz. The use of intense inbreeding had decreased during the last few years, especially in the Spitz. The expected average inbreeding coefficients, calculated on th e basis of random mating simulations, were usually somewhat lower than the observed in both breeds. This implies that linebreeding or mild i nbreeding has been used as a breeding method.