1. What is the Kennel Club COI?

The Kennel Club Inbreeding Coefficient (COI) calculates the probability that two copies of the same gene have been inherited from an ancestor common to both parents. It's expressed as a percentage where higher values indicate greater inbreeding.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Kennel Club formula:

Where:

• \( n \) — Number of generations separating the parents from their common ancestor
• \( F_a \) — Inbreeding coefficient of the common ancestor
• The sum is taken over all common ancestors

Explanation: The equation accounts for both the generational distance and the existing inbreeding in common ancestors.

3. Importance of COI Calculation

Details: COI helps breeders make informed decisions to maintain genetic diversity. Lower COI generally indicates healthier breeding with reduced risk of genetic disorders.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of generations (typically 5-10), count of common ancestors in the pedigree, and their average COI. For unknown ancestor COI, use 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good COI value?
A: Ideally under 5% for occasional breeding, under 10% is acceptable. Over 25% indicates very close inbreeding.

Q2: How many generations should I calculate?
A: The Kennel Club recommends at least 5 generations for meaningful results.

Q3: Does a COI of 0% mean no inbreeding?
A: Only within the generations calculated. Distant ancestors may still share lineage.

Q4: How does COI affect health?
A: Higher COI increases risk of recessive genetic disorders and reduces genetic diversity.

Q5: Can COI predict specific health problems?
A: No, it only indicates probability of gene matching. Specific health testing is still needed.