Browsing by discipline "Husdjursvetenskap"

Rukiin tuotanto ei ole perinteisesti yltänyt kattamaan sen kysyntää Suomessa. Kiinnostusta rukiin viljelyyn heikentää riski leipäviljaksi kelpaamattomista ruiseristä. Suomessa ei ole suositeltu rukiin käyttöä juurikaan kotieläinten ruokinnassa sen huonon maittavuuden sekä haitta-aineiden vuoksi. Rukiin käytöstä nautojen ruokinnassa on hyvin vähän tutkimustuloksia. Nykyiset ruista koskevat ruokintasuositukset perustuvat useita vuosikymmeniä vanhoihin tutkimustuloksiin. Ruislajikkeiden jalostus on kuitenkin muokannut viljojen ravitsemuksellisia arvoja, joten uutta tutkimustietoa uusista lajikkeista tarvitaan. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää rukiin vaikutuksia maitorotuisten sonnien rehun syöntiin, kasvuun ja teurasominaisuuksiin. Hypoteesina oli, että ruista voidaan käyttää nykyisiä suosituksia enemmän kasvavien nautojen ruokinnassa. Kokeen alussa 80 sonnia jaettiin neljään ryhmään. Koe kesti keskimäärin 232 vuorokautta. Koe-eläimiä ruokittiin seosrehulla, jonka väkirehuprosentti oli 50 %. Väkirehu sisälsi ruista 0, 15, 30 ja 45 % kuiva-aineesta. Väkirehu oli teollista täysrehua ja säilörehu oli laadultaan hyvää 1. sadon timoteinurmisäilörehua (D-arvo = 691 g/kg ka). Kokeen väkirehut vakioitiin energiasisällön mukaan. Koe-eläinten yksilöllistä syöntiä mitattiin, eläimiä punnittiin kokeen aikana ja ruhon laatua mitattiin ultraäänimittauksilla ja teurastuloksilla. Koe-eläinten keskimääräinen kuiva-aineen syönti oli 10,9 kg/pv. Päiväkasvut olivat kokeen aikana keskimäärin 1537 g/pv. Teurasikä kokeessa oli keskimäärin 484 pv ja teuraspaino 354 kg. Teurasruhojen lihakkuus oli keskimäärin EUROP-luokituksen O-luokkaa ja rasvaisuus luokkaa 2. Kokeessa ei havaittu tilastollisesti merkitsevää eroa koe-eläinten rehun syönnissä tai rehun hyväksikäytössä. Rukiin ei havaittu vaikuttavan koe-eläinten kasvuun. Myöskään teurasiässä, teuraspainossa tai ruhon teuraslaadussa ei havaittu tilastollisesti merkitsevää eroa koeryhmien välillä. Tulosten perusteella voidaan olettaa, että ruista voidaan käyttää nykyisiä suosituksia enemmän nautojen ruokinnassa. Lisää tutkimusta aiheesta kuitenkin tarvitaan. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin hyvälaatuista ruista, jossa ei ollut torajyvää tai sen aiheuttamia homemyrkkyjä. Ruis on kuitenkin hyvin altis torajyvälle, eikä torajyvän saastuttamaa ruista voida syöttää kotieläimille.

In order to increase protein self-sufficiency and food production, it is necessary to study new protein feeds. Faba bean (Vicia faba) is a nitrogen-fixing plant, and thereby a good choice for versatile rotation of crops. Faba beans contain less crude protein and considerably more starch than rapeseed meal. Most of the faba bean protein degrades in rumen and it contains less methionine than rapeseed meal protein. Microalgae contain plenty of crude protein and their production requires less surface area than cultivation of field crops. Microalgae can also be grown in harsh climate conditions. However, microalgae have, in some of the earlier studies, reduced palatability of the diet. Aim of this Master’s Thesis was to compare rapeseed meal, faba bean seeds and Spirulina microalgae effects on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows. Hypothesis were decreased feed intake when Spirulina was added to the diet; lower milk production with faba bean diet than with rapeseed diet; and increased milk production when a part of faba bean protein was replaced with Spirulina protein. The study was conducted at Viikki research farm at Helsinki during the spring of 2015. Eight multiparous ayrshire dairy cows were used. At the beginning of the study, on average 113 days were passed since calving of the cows. The study design was a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square. Cows of the other square were rumen fistulated. Treatments (rapeseed, rapeseed + Spirulina, faba bean, faba bean + Spirulina) were isonitrogenous. In microalgae treatments protein from Spirulina was used to substitute half of the protein from rapeseed or faba bean. Total mixed ration (TMR) included in addition to protein feeds grass silage, barley, molassed sugar beet pulp and vitamins and minerals. Cows received TMR ad libitum. There were no differences in dry matter intake (DMI) between rapeseed and faba bean treatments. According to the hypothesis, DMI was decreased with Spirulina diets. Hypothesis regarding milk production were also realised. Milk, energy-corrected milk, fat, protein and lactose yields were lower with faba bean than with rapeseed treatments. Adding Spirulina to diet increased milk yield in faba bean treatment, but decreased it in rapeseed treatment. Adding Spirulina to diet did not affect energy-corrected milk yield significantly. Spirulina did not affect fat yields, and it lowered the protein and lactose yields in rapeseed treatment, and increased them in faba bean treatment. Based on the findings of the study, faba bean and Spirulina are inferior protein feeds compared to rapeseed meal in grass silage and grain based diets. Faba bean protein’s high rumen degradability and low methionine concentration probably limit milk production. Spirulina and faba bean combined meet dairy cow’s amino acid needs better than faba bean alone. However, Spirulina’s negative impact on DMI may restrict its usage as a protein feed for dairy cows.

Agriculture is responsible of 60 % of phosphorus load in water systems. The phosphorus load of milk production can be influenced by dietary phosphorus concentration. Rapeseed (Brassica rapa L. ssp. Oleifera) meals and cakes are commonly used as protein supplement for dairy cows due to their good milk production response. However, the concentration of phosphorus is high in rapeseed meal. Excessive phosphorus is mainly excreted through faeces, which is why dietary phosphorus concentration should be kept moderate. The phosphorus concentration of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) is lower than that of rapeseed meal, but milk production response of faba beans is lower likely due to its lower methionine concentration. Milk is significant phosphorus sink, so it is important simultaneously to maintain milk production while decreasing the dietary phosphorus concentration. The aim of this master’s thesis is to compare the effects of rapeseed meal, faba beans and Spirulina platensis microalgae on the phosphorus utilisation in milk production. The experiment was conducted at Viikki Research farm in University of Helsinki during spring 2015. In the experiment, the effects of different protein supplements on the dry matter (DM) and phosphorus intake of dairy cows, milk production, phosphorus concentration of milk, faeces and urine, and phosphorus utilisation were compared. Eight multiparous Finnish Ayrshire cows were used in 4x4 Latin square study with four dietary treatments and four 21-d periods. The arrangement of treatments was 2x2 factorial. Basal protein supplements were either rapeseed meal or rolled faba beans, of whose protein 0 % or 50 % were substituted by spirulina. The diets were isonitrogenous in regards to nitrogen supply from protein feed. Cows had ad libitum access to total mixed ratio (TMR) consisting of experimental protein feed, grass silage, barley, sugar beet pulp and mineral-vitamin mixture. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 55:45 in DM in all experimental TMR’s. The phosphorus concentration of the diets was 3,93 g/kg DM (rapeseed meal), 3,90 g/kg DM (rapeseed meal + spirulina), 3,75 g/kg DM (faba beans) and 3,76 g/kg DM (faba beans + spirulina). The DM intake did not differ between faba beans and rapeseed meal, but was decreased when basal protein feed was substituted by spirulina. The substitution of basal protein feed by spirulina decreased milk yield on rapeseed based diets but increased it on faba bean based diets. Phosphorus intake was higher and the phosphorus concentration of faeces tended to be higher on rapeseed than on faba bean based diets. Phosphorus intake was decreased by the substitution of basal protein feed by spirulina but this had no effect on phosphorus concentration of faeces. Phosphorus utilisation in milk production was equally effective with rapeseed and faba bean based diets, and tended to increase when basal protein feed was substituted by spirulina. Based on this study, the milk production response of faba beans and spirulina is lower than that of rapeseed meal. The diet including both faba beans and spirulina might be good alternative in terms of phosphorus utili-sation, since on this diet milk yield was higher than on the diet having faba beans as sole protein feed, and the phosphorus concentration of faeces was lower than on rapeseed based diets. The partial substitution of basal protein feed by spirulina increased the efficiency of phosphorus utilisation in milk production. This indicates that faba beans have potential to increase the efficiency of phosphorus utilisation in milk production when the amino acid composition of faba beans are balanced with feeds rich in methionine. Phosphorus utilisation can also be increased by partial substitution of rapeseed meal by spirulina if palatability and subsequently the milk production response of spirulina can be improved.

The aim of this study was to investigate how the quality of silage affects the silage intake of reindeer. There were two growth stages of primary growth and regrowth silage in the study. Aerobic stability of silage was observed after opening the silage bales. The experimental silages were made at the fields of MTT Agrifood Research Finland in Apukka, Rovaniemi. The study was conducted at the reindeer pen of Lapland Vocational College. There were four groups of female reindeer, six animals in each, and one silage type per group. Feeding trial lasted eight weeks with two weeks pre-period before. Reindeer were fed ad libitum in the mornings. The biggest differences of chemical composition of silages were between primary growth and regrowth silage. The growth stage did not affect to the chemical composition. Aerobic deterioration of silages was not observed during three weeks exposure to air because ambient temperature remained above zero almost constantly. Silage residue had lower D-value, crude protein, AAT and PBV content and higher concentration of NDF-fiber compared to the given feed. The selection of feed differed between primary growth and regrowth silage based on crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents. This is may be because of the excess of crude protein and WSC relative to nutrient requirements of reindeer or that the variables are correlated with the other variables which explain the intake. Silage intake was higher when dry-matter content was higher and lower when crude protein content was higher. WSC had slightly positive effect to the intake. Intake seemed to be curvilinearly related to the content of fermentation products. Effective utilization of silage requires analyses on the chemical composition of silage.

In this master’s thesis the current production level of Senegalese dairy breeds was estimated and a model to predict annual yield based on test day results was developed. With the results of this master’s thesis and the results from the project Senegal Dairy Genetics it was possible to determine the average milk yield of Senegalese dairy breeds. Production records can be further used in planning the feeding and in selection of breeding animals. The results can also be used in socio-economic evaluation of different dairy breeds in Senegal. The data was collected as a part of FoodAfrica programme and its work package Senegal Dairy Genetics which is funded by the ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The lactation curve was modelled for different breed types and on animal level using Wilmink and Wood functions. The modelling was evaluated by coefficient of determination, mean squared error of prediction and by plotting of residuals. Estimated mean cumulative milk yield of 305 days was calculated with estimates obtained by modelling of the lactation curves. The cumulative yield was calculated using modified Interpolation method. There was a clear difference in production level between between breed types. The mean daily milk yield of all animals was 2.6 litres of milk. In the smaller data set the cumulative milk yield of 305 days was 604 litres for pure bred zebu and 1308 litres for zebu and taurine crosses when calculated with the Test Interval Method. In the larger data set the yield of 305 days for zebu was 424 litres. Wilmink function had lower mean squared error of prediction (MSE) than Wood function. The coefficient of determination was slightly higher with Wood function. However, Wilmink function proved to be more accurate and more robust. The estimated yield using the predictions of modelling of the lactation curves was very close to the cumulative yield calculated with the Test Interval Method. Wilmink function was determined fit to predict production records.

Lehmä on suuren osan tuotoskaudestaan tiineenä. Tuotantokautta edeltävä vasikka vaikuttaa erityisesti alkutuotoskauden maitotuotokseen, mikäli poikimisessa on ollut vaikeuksia. Toisaalta loppulypsykauden tuotokseen vaikuttaa kohdussa kehittyvä sikiö, joka vie osan emän energiaresursseista. Tässä pro gradu -tutkielmassa on tavoitteena tutkia sikiön ja tuotoskautta edeltävän vasikan vaikutuksia emän maitotuotokseen tuotosseuranta- ja polveutumistietojen avulla. Aineisto saatiin Faba Osk:lta ja se sisälsi suomalaiset vuosina 2005–2011 syntyneet, vähintään kolmesti poikineet ayrshirelehmät sekä niiden ayrshirevasikat. Koko aineiston käsittely tehtiin R-ohjelmoinnin piirissä. Sikiön ja vasikan sukupuolen vaikutusta eri tuotoskauden vaiheissa, ja vaikutuksia maidon laatuun tutkittiin mallilla, jossa oli mukana systemaattiset kiinteät tekijät (karja, vuosi, vuodenaika ja tyhjäkauden pituus) ja lisäksi mukaan otettiin sikiön ja edeltävän vasikan sukupuolet. Edeltävän vasikan syntymäpainon ja sikiön tulevan syntymäpainon vaikutusta tutkittiin osa-aineistolla, jossa oli mukana punnitustulokset. Tämän osa-aineiston koko oli noin 12 % koko aineiston koosta. Geneettisten analyysien avulla tahdottiin tarkentaa vaikutusten esilletuloa sekä löytää mahdollinen emän maternellivaikutus sikiöstä kehittyvän vasikan syntymäpainoon ja toisaalta sikiön isän paternellivaikutus sikiön kautta lehmän maitotuotokseen. Geneettinen analysointi suoritettiin bayeslaisella MCMC-menetelmällä. Sikiön sukupuolella on pieni, mutta tilastollisesti merkitsevä vaikutus emän maitotuotokseen. Vaikutus oli havaittavissa koko tuotoskaudella ja lopputuotoskaudella, jolloin sikiö kehittyy kohdussa nopeammin. Lehmäsikiö lisäsi ensimmäisen tuotoskauden 305 päivän tuotosta 25,3 kg, toisella tuotoskaudella 25,6 kg. Edellisen vasikan sukupuolen vaikutus alkavaan tuotoskauteen oli ennakko-odotuksista poiketen päinvastainen kuin sikiöllä: sonnivasikan poikiminen paransi alkavan tuotoskauden tuotosta molemmilla tuotoskausilla, tosin vaikutusta ei havaittu ensimmäisen tuotoskauden alussa. Sonnivasikan poikiminen tuotti ensimmäisellä lypsykaudella 14,3 kg enemmän maitoa kuin lehmävasikan, toisella tuotoskaudella 55,1 kg. Maidon laatuun sikiön ja edeltävän vasikan vaikutukset olivat hyvin pieniä. Painokilon lisäys sikiön tulevaan syntymäpainoon nosti emän maitotuotosta lineaarisesti molemmilla tuotoskausilla. Edeltävän vasikan syntymäpainon kilon lisäys nosti alkavan tuotoskauden maitotuotosta kiihtyvästi. Painon vaikutuksen lisääminen analysoitavaan malliin peitti kaikissa analyyseissa sukupuolen vaikutuksen, mikä viittaa siihen, että ainakin osa sukupuolen vaikutuksesta johtuu nimenomaan sukupuoleen liittyvästä painoerosta. Sikiöstä kehittyvän vasikan syntymäpainon periytymisaste oli 0,22. Emän maternellivaikutusta ei aineistosta kyetty löytämään. Sikiön sukupuoli oli mallissa merkitsevä, ja lehmävasikan syntymäpaino oli 1,82 kg sonnivasikkaa alhaisempi. Lehmän oma geneettinen vaikutus maitotuotokseensa oli periytymisasteeltaan 0,24-0,28, sikiön isän vaikutukselle löydettiin 0,034:n periytymisaste. Sikiön isä siis vaikuttaa lehmän maitotuotokseen paternellivaikutuksen kautta ja sonnivalinnalla voidaan vaikuttaa lehmän maitotuotokseen.

The aim of the fur production is a high-quality pelt. Selection on pelt size has lead to heavy and possibly obese animals. The obesity can impair animals' health, fertility, welfare and also damage the image of production. Fat animals are most likely increasing feed consumption and subsequent feed costs. A long and lean animal is an economical aim. Blue fox already has a subjective 5-level body score index (BSC), but the aim of this study was to develop a body mass index (BMI) which contains easily measured traits: length and weight. We also wanted to quantify the genetic variation of animals' length, daily gain and BMI and their relation to feed consumption. The data was from MTT's SOLAKKA experiment (2005-2006) where animals were raised in cages occupied by a pair of individuals. The feed consumption was analyzed at an individual- and cage-level. The BMI was developed using the data from the normal sized animals (BSC 3 and 4). The BMI parameters were calculated separately for males and females, because of their weight difference. Using the BMI we could determine with the length of normal sized animals' their required amount of feed. Further, we could calculate the joint feed requirement for a cage pair. The residual feed intake (RFI) was the difference between measured and predicted feed intake. The summed RFI was used for a cage pair. The genetic analyses were performed with R program MCMCglmm package which is based on Bayesian inference. Heritability of length varied 0.43-0.66, heritability of daily gain 0.72-0.83 and heritability of BMI 0.66-0.72. Heritability of dry matter intake was 0.71-0.85 and that of sum-RFI 0.43-0.48. The genetic correlation between sum-RFI and daily gain or BMI was high (0.60-0.63), hence selection on either trait would reduce also RFI. The selection on BMI would not affect length, while there was genetic correlation 0.42 between daily gain and length. The obesity problem of blue fox must be intervened and the BMI seems to be good tool for that. The consequences of its use must still be monitored.

Sulavuustutkimuksen avulla pyritään arvioimaan eläinten ravintoaineiden tarvetta, kehittämään rehujen koostumuksia ja minimoimaan eläintuotannon ympäristövaikutukset. Eläimen rehunsyönnin ja sonnan kokonaiskeruun avulla laskettua sulavuutta käytetään laajasti, mutta menetelmään liittyy virhelähteitä ja ongelmia. Merkkiaineen käyttö sulavuuden tutkimisessa poistaa kokonaiskeruun tarpeen, mutta se ei ole myöskään ongelmaton. Sisäiset merkkiaineet ovat aineita, joita on luontaisesti rehussa, kuten piioksidi, ligniini, happoon liukenematon tuhka (AIA) ja sulamaton neutraalidetergenttikuitu (iNDF). Ulkoiset merkkiaineet ovat rehuun lisättäviä reagoimattomia valmisteita, kuten liukenemattomia metallioksideja, muovia, kumia tai väriaineita. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on verrata lypsylehmillä iNDF:n ja AIA:n avulla laskettuja sulavuuksia käyttäen aineistona aiemmin AIA:lla tehtyjä sulavuustutkimuksia. Tutkimusaineistona oli viisi Viikin opetus- ja tutkimustilan navetassa vuosina 2013–2015 tehtyä ruokintatutkimusta. Lehmien poikimisesta oli 100–212 päivää. Koeasetelmat olivat pääasiassa kahden neliön latinalaisia neliöitä. Ruokintakeskiarvoja aineistossa oli 21. Rehu- ja sontanäytteistä määritettiin iNDF nailonpussimenetelmällä uittamalla näytepusseja 12 vrk kahden fistelöidyn lehmän pötsissä. Ravintoaineiden sulavuudet laskettiin iNDF-merkkiaineella ja orgaanisen aineen sulavuuksille laskettiin suhdeluku iNDF-sulavuus/AIA-sulavuus. Lisäksi laskettiin sonnan määrä ja sonnassa erittyneen iNDF:n osuus syödystä iNDF:stä (recovery). Aineistosta laskettiin koeruokintojen minimi ja maksimi, keskiarvo sekä keskihajonta. AIA- ja iNDF-merkkiaineella saatujen sulavuusarvojen välistä yhteyttä testattiin yksinkertaisella regressioanalyysillä. Lisäksi analysoitiin sekamallin regressioanalyysillä mitkä rehuannosta kuvaavat laatuparametrit selittivät parhaiten AIA- ja iNDF-sulavuuksien eroa. Tutkimusaineiston rehujen iNDF-pitoisuudet vaihtelivat 58–146 g/kg ka ja iNDF:n osuus NDF:stä 136–318 g/kg NDF. Koeruokintojen AIA-pitoisuudet vaihtelivat 8,6–14,9 g/kg ka ja iNDF-pitoisuudet 50,8–132 g/kg ka. Aineiston ruokintakeskiarvojen AIA:lla määritetty orgaanisen aineen sulavuus vaihteli 0,646–0,760, kuiva-aineen syönti 18,2–25,8 kg ka/pv, energiakorjattu maitotuotos 24,9–38,4 kg/pv ja väkirehun osuus 42,1–53,0 % kuiva-aineesta. Ravintoaineiden iNDF:llä määritetyt sulavuudet olivat keskimäärin pienempiä kuin AIA-sulavuudet. Orgaanisen aineen iNDF- ja AIA-sulavuuksien keskimääräinen suhdeluku oli 0,959 ja keskimääräinen erotus 0,028. Keskimäärin sonnassa erittyneen iNDF:n osuus syödystä iNDF:stä oli 0,922. Regressioanalyysin mukaan eri merkkiaineilla määritetyissä sulavuuksissa oli suurin ero rehuannoksen sulavuuden ollessa matala, mutta ero pieneni sulavuuden parantuessa. Parhaiten iNDF- ja AIA-sulavuuksien suhdelukua selitti dieetin iNDF-pitoisuus. Mitä suurempi dieetin iNDF-pitoisuus oli, sitä pienempi oli orgaanisen aineen sulavuus iNDF:llä määritettynä verrattuna AIA:lla määritettyyn. Tutkimuksen perusteella iNDF:llä ja AIA:lla saatujen sulavuustulosten välinen suhde vaihtelee riippuen rehuannoksen ominaisuuksista. Tutkielman aineistossa iNDF:n käyttö sisäisenä merkkiaineena vastasi AIA:lla saatuja sulavuustuloksia sitä paremmin mitä pienempi rehuannoksen iNDF-pitoisuus oli ja mitä parempi rehuannoksen sulavuus oli.

Live weight data of cows is needed when preparing feeding plans and monitoring body condition of cows. Live weight is also important in medication; underestimating live weight is a major factor in the development of drug resistance. Live weight of dairy cows has increased in the years 2007–2017. The weight of primaparous cows has increased 21,4 kg (8,8 %), in the second parity 29,2 kg (9,7 %) and in the third parity 34,4 kg (10,8 %). The live weight is affected by both genetics and environment. Higher live weight leads to increased maintenance energy and feed consumption and thereby also increased emissions of greenhouse gases. For these reasons, the body weight should be lowered, or at least its increase should be slowed down. In this study, the objective was to estimate heritability of live weight and body conformation traits in Finnish Ayrshire. In addition, the possibility to include live weight into Nordic Total Merit index (NTM) using breeding values of the frame traits is assessed. From the original data outliers and incorrect observations were deleted. The data were also constrained by fixed effect subclass size. The final data contained 39,550 live weight observations and 12,928 measurements or scores conformation. The heritabilities of this study were: live weight 0,45 (standard error 0,02), stature 0,53 (0,04) and other conformation traits 0,11–0,32 (0,02–0,03). Genetic correlations between live weigh at different ages were very high 0,96–0,98 (0,01–0,03) and the phenotypic correlations were 0,43–0,76. The correlations between the live weight and body characteristics were computed only for the first calving. The genetic correlation between live weight and stature was 0,65 (0,03) and between live weight and other frame traits -0,14–0,59 (0,05–0,09). Based on the results, live weight could be predicted with frame traits. Hence it is possible to calculate the estimates of breeding values to live weight by using the composite index of body characteristics. Adding live weight index into NTM with a negative weight would restrain the growth of cow size.

The aim of this study was to analyze the development and population structure of the Finnhorse's parentage. The coefficient of inbreeding, the time between generations and the effective population size was studied in the whole population. The effective number of founders and ancestors in the population was determined. The number of horses in the whole population was 77 925 animals. The time between generations was 12.6 years on average. On average, the time between generations was two years longer for stallions than for mares. The effective population size of the Finnhorse was 181, which is sufficient to preserve the genetic diversity of the gene pool. It also examined the degree of kinship and inbreeding with the development of advanced, runner, riding, working - and small horse the direction of the corresponding parameters between the years 1960-2012 and compared with the results obtained in this term. There were 9 585 horses registered in different breeding sections: 6 385 horses in the trotter section, 1 734 horses in the working section, 1 027 horses in the riding second and 439 small Finnhorses. The average coefficient of relatedness in the whole population in 1960–2012 was 2,7-10,7%. The average inbreeding coefficient of inbreeding in the whole population was 1-4,4%. Inbreeding has evolved over the last few decades in the same way as in the past. Stock recorded a runner horses degree of relatedness is, however, significantly increased in recent years. The relatedness between the trotter section and the rest of the population was in the same range than in the whole population. The results of this research concerning different variables were similar to those gathered from studies on other horse breeds. The coefficient of inbreeding and relatedness of the Finnhorse is low enough to ensure that the genetic diversity of the breed will not diminish in the future.