EVALUATION OF ANIMAL RESOURCES EXEMPLIFIE D ON NATIVE BRAUNVIEH - 2NDCOMMUNICATION - GENETIC DISTANCES BETWEEN ORIGINAL BRAUNVIEH AND BROWN SWISS AND OTHER BREEDS

Genetic distances between eight different strains of brown cattle, Fle ckvieh, Tyrolean grey, Holstein Friesian and Jersey were estimated to characterize the genetic particularity of the original Braunvieh of th e Allgau. We used up to 21 marker loci, i.e. 11 blood group systems, s ix blood proteins and four milk protein loci. Gene frequencies of the present and of the past Braunvieh strains of the Allgau and of Switzer land were estimated by gene counting resp. iterative allocation. The f requencies of milk protein genes of present and past original Braunvie h strains were compared among each other and with Brown Swiss. For com puting genetic distances we employed measures suggested by REYNOLDS an d by CAVALLI-SFORZA and BODMER, for graphic presentation we chose UPGM A. The European double purpose breeds (OB, FV, GV) are well separated from the American dairy breeds (BS, HF, JY). Genetic distances between original Braunvieh and Brown Swiss are considerably greater than betw een the former and the other dual purpose breeds. Possible causes for this could be genetic drift, selection and crossbreeding. However, the genetic distance between the old Allgau and Swiss strains were also r elatively large. Finally the original Allgau strain is evaluated in re spect to erosion and to its particularity. The ''endangered'' populati on is considered eligible for preservation. Joining the original Swiss Braunvieh is possibility but by FAO standards, this itself is conside red endangered.