Mapping QTL for Fur Quality Traits in Mink (Neovison vison)

Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting fur quality traits (guard hair length, guard hair thickness and density of wool) was performed in a 3-generation population (F₂-design). In the parental generation, Nordic wild mink were crossed reciprocally with black American short nap mink. Twenty one wild mink were mated to 25 short nap mink. In the F₁-generation, 103 mink were mated. 934 mink were obtained in the F₂-generation. All mink were genotyped using 100 microsatellites covering all 14 autosomal chromosomes. The marker spacing was approximately 20 cM. Recordings of fur quality traits were made on all mink in the F₂-generation by Kopenhagen Fur. The QTL analyses were performed by a regression method implemented in the software program GridQTL. Evidence was found for QTL for the fur quality traits on 8 autosomal chromosomes (LOD score>3). QTL were detected for guard hair thickness on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8, for guard hair length on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11 and for wool density on chromosome 7. Similar locations of QTL for guard hair length and guard hair thickness on chromosomes 2, 6 and 7 suggest that these traits are in part under the influence of the same genes.