Documenting Family Lineages

Pedigree management in Kora creates permanent family tree records. Document parent-offspring relationships. Track sibling connections. Build multi-generational lineages. Create extended family networks. Pedigrees form the foundation for breeding decisions. Enable you to avoid inbreeding. Verify parentage. Trace valuable genetics. Maintain complete lineage documentation. This supports conservation, breed registries, and genetic management.

This chapter explains how family relationships are recorded. What pedigree information is tracked. How lineage documentation supports breeding programs.

What is a Pedigree?

A pedigree is a family tree showing genealogical relationships. Who is related to whom. How they are related. Across how many generations. In breeding programs, pedigrees document:

• Parent-offspring relationships - Which animals produced which offspring
• Sibling relationships - Animals sharing parents
• Multi-generational lineages - Grandparents, great-grandparents, and beyond
• Extended family - Aunts, uncles, cousins through shared ancestry

Why pedigrees matter:

• Prevent inbreeding - Avoid breeding closely related animals
• Verify parentage - Confirm claimed parents are actual parents
• Track genetics - Follow valuable traits or bloodlines through generations
• Support breeding decisions - Select breeding pairs based on known relationships
• Enable registration - Provide lineage proof for breed association certification
• Conservation - Document endangered species genetics across institutions

Example pedigree:

Simple Three-Generation Cattle Pedigree:

                Grandparents          Parents            Offspring

Paternal:       Bull "Thunder"   →   Bull "Storm"    →
                Cow "Lightning"                            Calf "Bolt"
                                                        →  (Current Animal)
Maternal:       Bull "River"     →   Cow "Rain"      →
                Cow "Stream"

Bolt's Pedigree Shows:
  - Sire (father): Storm
  - Dam (mother): Rain
  - Paternal Grandfather: Thunder
  - Paternal Grandmother: Lightning
  - Maternal Grandfather: River
  - Maternal Grandmother: Stream

Breeding Decision: Do not breed Bolt back to Storm (parent), Rain (parent),
or any siblings sharing Storm or Rain as parents.

Pedigrees provide genetic roadmap. Prevent problems before breeding occurs.

Recording Family Relationships

Family relationships are documented as pedigree links between studbook entries:

Basic Relationship Types:

• Parent → Offspring: Adult animal produced this offspring
• Offspring → Parent: This animal is child of specific parent
• Sibling: Animals sharing same parents (full siblings)
• Half-Sibling: Animals sharing one parent (half-siblings)

Extended Relationships (tracked but less commonly documented directly):

• Grandparent → Grandoffspring: Two generations separation
• Grandoffspring → Grandparent: Reverse relationship

Example relationship documentation:

Documenting Birth of Elephant Calf:

Parents:
  Sire: "Jabari" (male elephant, Studbook ID: BRP-2016-M-009)
  Dam: "Amara" (female elephant, Studbook ID: BRP-2015-F-018)

Offspring:
  Calf: "Kito" (born 2023-05-12, Studbook ID: BRP-2023-M-028)

Relationships Created:
  1. Jabari (Parent) → Kito (Offspring)
  2. Kito (Offspring) → Jabari (Parent)  [Automatically created reciprocal]
  3. Amara (Parent) → Kito (Offspring)
  4. Kito (Offspring) → Amara (Parent)  [Automatically created reciprocal]

Result: Four pedigree relationships document Kito's parentage, enabling:
  - Future breeding decisions avoid Jabari or Amara (parents)
  - Pedigree queries find Kito's siblings (other offspring of Jabari and Amara)
  - Multi-generation tracking as Kito matures and potentially breeds

System automatically creates reciprocal relationships. When you document Jabari as Kito's parent, system creates reverse link. Shows Kito as Jabari's offspring. Maintains complete bidirectional pedigree.

Confidence Levels

Pedigree relationships can be verified to different confidence levels:

Confidence Categories:

• DNA Confirmed: Genetic testing verified relationship
• Observed: Direct observation of breeding and birth
• Presumed: Inferred from records or circumstances
• Unknown: Uncertain parentage

Example confidence level usage:

High Confidence Relationship:
  Sire: Bull "Champion"
  Dam: Cow "Prima"
  Offspring: Calf "Victory"
  Confidence: DNA Confirmed
  Notes: "Parentage verified through genetic testing. DNA markers
          confirm both sire and dam. 99.9% probability."

Medium Confidence Relationship:
  Sire: Bull "Leader"
  Dam: Cow "Beauty"
  Offspring: Calf "Grace"
  Confidence: Observed
  Notes: "Natural breeding observed, single bull with cow during breeding
          season, calf birth timing consistent with observed breeding."

Lower Confidence Relationship:
  Sire: Unknown
  Dam: Cow "Wildflower"
  Offspring: Calf "Meadow"
  Confidence: Presumed
  Notes: "Dam confirmed (birth observed), sire presumed from pasture bull
          present during breeding period but not confirmed."

Confidence levels communicate pedigree reliability. High-confidence relationships provide stronger foundation for breeding decisions and breed registration. Lower-confidence relationships still useful but noted as uncertain.

Sibling Relationships

Siblings sharing parents are automatically identifiable through pedigree structure:

Full Siblings: Share both parents (same sire and dam) Half-Siblings: Share one parent (same sire OR same dam)

Example sibling identification:

Family Group - Elephant "Amara" (Dam):

Amara's Offspring:
  2018: Calf "Zara" (sired by "Jabari")     → Zara and Kito are half-siblings
  2021: Calf "Mali" (sired by "Kofi")       → Mali and Kito are half-siblings
  2023: Calf "Kito" (sired by "Jabari")     → Kito and Zara are half-siblings
                                               (share mother Amara, same father Jabari
                                                makes them FULL siblings)
Sibling Summary:
  - Zara and Kito: Full siblings (same mother Amara, same father Jabari)
  - Zara and Mali: Half-siblings (share mother Amara, different fathers)
  - Mali and Kito: Half-siblings (share mother Amara, different fathers)

Breeding Implications:
  - Do not breed Zara with Kito (full siblings)
  - Do not breed Mali with Zara or Kito (half-siblings still too closely related)
  - Future breeding should consider these sibling relationships avoiding close inbreeding

System identifies siblings through shared parent relationships. No explicit sibling documentation required.

Multi-Generational Pedigrees

Pedigrees extend across generations creating comprehensive lineage documentation:

Example five-generation pedigree:

Five Generations of Hereford Cattle:

Generation 1 (Great-Great-Grandparents):
  Bull "Foundation" + Cow "Matriarch" → produced multiple offspring

Generation 2 (Great-Grandparents):
  Bull "Heritage" (son of Foundation) + Cow "Legacy" → produced multiple offspring

Generation 3 (Grandparents):
  Bull "Thunder" (son of Heritage) + Cow "Lightning" → produced Storm

Generation 4 (Parents):
  Bull "Storm" (son of Thunder) + Cow "Rain" → produced Bolt

Generation 5 (Current Animal):
  Bull "Bolt" (son of Storm)

Pedigree Value:
  - Traces Bolt's lineage back 5 generations to Foundation bloodline
  - Documents specific genetic lines (Foundation → Heritage → Thunder → Storm → Bolt)
  - Identifies all relatives within pedigree (siblings, cousins, etc.)
  - Supports breed association registration (purebred lineage verification)
  - Enables breeding decisions avoiding any relatives in pedigree

Multi-generational pedigrees become increasingly valuable over time. As breeding programs mature and genetic documentation deepens.

Pedigree Queries and Family Tree Navigation

Pedigree data enables useful queries finding related animals:

Common pedigree questions:

• "Who are this animal's parents?"
• "Show all offspring of this breeding bull"
• "Find siblings of this animal"
• "Show complete family tree (multi-generational)"
• "Are these two animals related?"
• "Find all descendants of this founding animal"

Example pedigree query:

Query: "Find all offspring of Bull 'Storm'"

Results:
  1. Bull "Bolt" (2024, sired by Storm out of Cow "Rain")
  2. Cow "Tempest" (2022, sired by Storm out of Cow "Breeze")
  3. Bull "Thunder Jr" (2023, sired by Storm out of Cow "Sky")
  4. Cow "Gale" (2021, sired by Storm out of Cow "Mist")

Uses:
  - Breeding Planning: Do not breed any of Storm's offspring together (siblings)
  - Trait Tracking: If Storm carries valuable genetics, his 4 offspring represent
                     genetic legacy
  - Performance Analysis: Compare Storm's offspring production/quality
  - Genetic Diversity: Storm well-represented; prioritise other bulls for breeding

Queries transform pedigree data from static records into actionable breeding intelligence.

Integration with Breeding Events

Pedigree relationships link to documented breeding records:

Connecting Pedigrees to Reproductive Records: When breeding occurs and offspring born, reproductive record documents event details:

• Breeding date
• Conception method (natural, artificial insemination)
• Pregnancy tracking
• Birth date and outcome

Pedigree relationships link to these breeding records. Connect lineage to documented breeding events.

Example integrated documentation:

Reproductive Record:
  Breeding Date: 2023-08-15
  Sire: Bull "Storm"
  Dam: Cow "Rain"
  Method: Natural breeding
  Pregnancy Confirmed: 2023-10-20
  Expected Due Date: 2024-06-10
  Actual Birth Date: 2024-06-08
  Offspring: Calf "Bolt" (male, healthy, 42kg birth weight)

Pedigree Relationships (automatically linked to Reproductive Record):
  - Storm (Parent) → Bolt (Offspring) [linked to breeding record #2024-156]
  - Rain (Parent) → Bolt (Offspring) [linked to breeding record #2024-156]

Result: Complete documentation chain:
  Breeding event → Pregnancy → Birth → Offspring → Pedigree relationships
  All connected creating verifiable lineage with dates, methods, and outcomes.

Integration ensures pedigrees are not just relationships. They are documented breeding history with verifiable dates and context.

Verifying Parentage

Pedigree confidence levels support parentage verification:

Verification scenarios:

Scenario 1: Controlled Breeding (High Confidence)
  Single bull with specific cow, breeding observed, birth timing matches
  Result: Parentage highly probable, documented as "Observed" confidence
  Further verification: DNA testing provides "DNA Confirmed" confidence upgrade

Scenario 2: Multiple Bulls (Lower Confidence)
  Multiple bulls present with cow group during breeding season
  Result: Dam certain (birth witnessed), sire uncertain
  Action: DNA testing identifies actual sire from candidates
  Outcome: Relationship upgraded to "DNA Confirmed" with verified sire

Scenario 3: Unknown Parentage
  Animal acquired without pedigree documentation
  Options:
    - DNA test against potential relatives (if available)
    - Document as "Unknown" parentage
    - Historical records research if available
  Result: Partial pedigree when possible, unknown entries where not

Confidence levels communicate pedigree reliability. Enable appropriate breeding decisions based on verification level.

Pedigree Visualisation and Display

Pedigrees can be viewed in multiple formats:

Common pedigree displays:

• List view: Simple list of relationships (parent names, offspring names)
• Family tree diagram: Visual tree showing multi-generational lineage
• Ancestor chart: Focused on specific animal's ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.)
• Descendant chart: Focused on specific animal's offspring and their offspring

Example pedigree display (text format):

Animal: Calf "Bolt" (Studbook ID: HER-2024-512)

Parents:
  Sire: Bull "Storm" (HER-2021-M-287)
  Dam: Cow "Rain" (HER-2020-F-431)

Grandparents:
  Paternal Grandfather: Bull "Thunder" (HER-2018-M-156)
  Paternal Grandmother: Cow "Lightning" (HER-2017-F-209)
  Maternal Grandfather: Bull "River" (HER-2017-M-178)
  Maternal Grandmother: Cow "Stream" (HER-2019-F-334)

Siblings:
  Full Siblings: None (first calf from Storm × Rain pairing)
  Half-Siblings (through Storm): Bull "Thunder Jr" (HER-2023-M-489)
  Half-Siblings (through Rain): None

Offspring: None (young bull, not yet breeding age)

Visual representations help understand complex family structures at a glance.

Common Pedigree Scenarios

Breed Association Registration

Scenario: Cattle breeder registering calf with breed association requiring pedigree proof.

Workflow:

1. Calf born from registered parents
2. Record pedigree relationships (sire + dam → calf)
3. Both parents have documented pedigrees in studbook
4. Breed association reviews three-generation pedigree
5. All grandparents registered and verified
6. Calf eligible for official breed registration with documented purebred lineage

Outcome: Permanent breed registry certificate. Based on verifiable multi-generational pedigree documentation.

Conservation Breeding Coordination

Scenario: Zoo coordinating endangered parrot breeding across institutions.

Workflow:

1. All breeding parrots registered with complete pedigrees
2. Before breeding season, review pedigrees identifying relationships
3. Avoid pairing animals that are siblings, parent-offspring, or close cousins
4. Select breeding pairs from unrelated or distantly related lineages
5. Document offspring, create pedigree relationships
6. Multi-generational pedigree guides next season's breeding recommendations

Outcome: Genetic diversity maintained across population. Through systematic relationship tracking preventing inbreeding.

Research Colony Genetic Management

Scenario: Laboratory maintaining mouse strain with strict genetic control.

Workflow:

1. Breeding colony pedigrees document all relationships
2. Each generation, select breeding pairs from separate lineages
3. Rotate breeding animals preventing drift or inbreeding
4. Pedigree shows which animals related, which independent
5. Genetic consistency maintained through pedigree-informed breeding
6. Research experiments reference pedigree documenting genetic background

Outcome: Research reproducibility supported. By documented genetic consistency and controlled breeding informed by complete pedigrees.

Bloodline Preservation

Scenario: Farm preserving valuable cattle bloodline from champion bull.

Workflow:

1. Champion bull "King" produces multiple offspring (documented in pedigree)
2. King's sons and daughters registered as offspring
3. King's grandchildren born (pedigree shows second generation)
4. Over decades, complete descendant pedigree documents King's genetic legacy
5. Breeders reference pedigree finding animals carrying King's bloodline
6. Valuable genetics traced through multi-generational lineage

Outcome: Genetic legacy permanently documented. Enabling future breeders to access and preserve valuable bloodline. Through pedigree-guided decisions.