Predicate Koerung (determination of stud) and DNA testing

This activity of my Saluki in his second year concerns us both, because I initiated it:

The koerung for “Beauty and Performance” is as a special predicate and an approval for breeding. It confirms that the dog is particularly suitable for breeding. Above all, he has to be healthy, inter alia the result of the heart Doppler should be o.k., he should match the breed standard and have already shown performance as a hound. All in all, on these results, including the DNA testing, his nature, the dental status and measurements of size, afterwards it is allowed to breed with that dog.

I do not belong to the dog owners who want to earn money with the stud fee. For me the koerung of my dog is only a confirmation for the breeding-goal “Beauty and Performance”. In my view, there is no need to breed in quantity, because there are too many dogs living in shelters or charities. Therefore, I like to leave saluki-breeding to some experienced breeders!

Another additional DNA-testing of my dog in the MHC gene region, which is completely voluntary and relatively unknown, I asked myself as a challenge. The University of Helsinki (Finland) had found in 2008 that the so-called Salukis from the Countries of Origin (COO-imports) have a much more heterozygous MHC Region than the Salukis bred of Western countries. Such a heterozygous gene region is absolutely required to allow the immune system of an animal to function optimally. This means that intruders (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses) are recognized and changing environmental conditions are perceived. Therefore, it appealed to know how this gene region will be in my Saluki. However, my dog goes back over Pinari Tal Amal to the COO-Import “Mamnouna” in the 9th generation only. So I sent a blood sample of my Saluki to the Laboratory of Helsinki University and after a few months, I got the positive result that my dog does not belong to the app. 74% of the Western Salukis with a homozygous MHC gene region. This made me happy to learn. What does this result mean? As a western breeder you can keep vitality in your line by outcross matings! In my opinion this is very important to know for breeders!

Daoud's DLA result of MHC-Gene