Inheritance of color in Angora goats

Abstract

Inheritance of color in Angora goats deviates from mechanisms previously reported in other breeds and types of goats. Segregation data are most consistent with the presence of a dominant white that is epistatic to the Agouti and Extension loci. This newly documented locus, White Angora (Wta), has two alleles: dominant white (Wta(D)) and wild (Wta+). Goats lacking dominant white are various colors as determined by other loci. The segregation data support the existence of a dominant black that is epistatic to the Agouti locus, an action consistent with dominant black (E(D)) at the Extension locus. Alleles at the Agouti locus segregate as well, and include white or tan (A(wt)), badgerface (A(b)), black and tan (A(t)) and no pattern (A(a)). Two other patterns, likely at the Agouti locus, were also segregating, and are called peacock (A(pck)) and san clemente (A(sc)) after breeds in which each is widespread. Phenotype on goats bearing white or tan varied from white to reddish, with a few goats being dark tan-brown with darker tan shoulder and back stripes. One reddish tan kid segregated from two black and tan parents, suggesting that a recessive pheometanic genotype might also be present in the breed. This is likely a recessive allele at the Extension locus. The usual white Angora goat appears to have the dominant white allele in conjunction with white or tan at Agouti. The allele dominant black at Extension is also relatively frequent.