Graph analysis of animals' pedigrees

Abstract. In the present work an attempt to apply graph analysis on visual representations of animals' pedigrees is presented. Analysis of pedigree networks of moderate size (tens or hundreds of points) can substantially contribute to revealing the relational structures between animals. Partitioning graphic representations of pedigree networks to smaller parts (blocks) by means of network decomposition methods resulted in better handling and understanding of horse genealogical data. Analysis of pedigree networks could be used to estimate shortest kinship paths among animals, determinate all predecessors and successors of selected animals and finally to estimate inbreeding coefficients of selected individuals. Detection of families and animals with major gene contribution could substantially be facilitated. Graphic representation of pedigree networks provide simultaneous, dynamic and parsimonious representation of kinship, interrelations and constituent structures.