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Breeding for coat color can sometimes be associated with health problems due to the intricate genetics at play behind this practice. In alpacas, grey is a sought after and highly variable color pattern. However, this coloration is sometimes linked to serious health issues, including deafness and neonatal death. Researchers will examine the DNA of healthy grey-colored alpacas to gain an understanding of the health implications of different genetic versions of this color. This process is expected to help identify DNA markers that could be used in a screening test to reduce the incidence of serious health issues in grey alpacas and their offspring.

Study ID
D18LA-002
Study Status
Complete
Start Date
04/01/2018
Grant amount awarded
$79,000
Grant recipient
Curtin University
Study country
Australia
Investigator
Dr. Kylie A. Munyard, BSc, PhD
Study category
Genetics