Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T12:34:01.665Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Multiple-trait selection for radiographic health of the limbs, conformation and performance in Warmblood riding horses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2008

K. F. Stock  and
O. Distl
K. F. Stock*
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Bünteweg 17p, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
O. Distl
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Bünteweg 17p, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
*
E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Information on 26 434 German Warmblood horses born between 1992 and 2001 was used for multivariate genetic analyses of radiographic health, conformation and performance traits to compare different modes of single- and multiple-trait selection of sires. Results of standardized radiological examinations of 5155 Hanoverian Warmblood horses, conformation evaluations from studbook inspections of 20 603 mares, and performance evaluations from mare performance tests and auction horse inspections of 16 098 horses were used for multivariate genetic analyses. Genetic parameters were estimated with restricted maximum likelihood (REML), and relative breeding values (RBV) were predicted with best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) in multivariate linear animal models for four radiographic health traits, three conformation traits and five performance traits. Heritability estimates for osseous fragments in fetlock joints (OFF), osseous fragments in hock joints (OFH), deforming arthropathy in hock joints (DAH) and distinct radiographic findings in the navicular bones (DNB) ranged between 0.15 and 0.35 after transformation to the liability scale. Front limb conformation, hind limb conformation, withers height, walk, trot, canter, rideability and free jumping showed heritabilities between 0.09 and 0.49 and additive genetic correlations with OFF, OFH, DAH and DNB ranging between −0.53 and +0.52. Selection of sires was based on RBV or combinations of RBV, with selection for individual traits or traits from one of the three considered trait groups being considered as single-trait selection, and selection for traits from more than one trait group being considered as multiple-trait selection. The selection modes were compared by means of the expected selection response after one generation, calculated as the relative change in the prevalences of the radiographic findings or the mean conformation or performance scores in the offspring of the selected sires when compared with the offspring of all sires. The prevalences of OFF, OFH, DAH and DNB decreased by 30% to 57% after single-trait selection and 14% to 29% after multiple-trait selection, while mean conformation and performance scores increased by up to 4%. The results indicated that it is possible to simultaneously improve the radiographic health of the limbs, limb conformation, quality of gaits and rideability. However, genetic progress in free jumping ability and style could only be achieved by single- or multiple-trait selection with focus on jumping performance.

Keywords

multiple-trait selectionradiographic findingsconformationperformancegenetic correlation
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 2 , Issue 12 , December 2008 , pp. 1724 - 1732
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dempster, ER, Lerner, IM 1950. Heritability of threshold characters. Genetics 35, 212–235.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Groeneveld, E 1990. PEST user’s manual. Institute for Animal Science and Animal Husbandry, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, FAL), Mariensee/Neustadt, Germany.Google Scholar
Koenen, EPC, Van Veldhuizen, AE, Brascamp, EW 1995. Genetic parameters of linear scored conformation traits and their relation to dressage and show-jumping performance in the Dutch Warmblood riding horse population. Livestock Production Science 43, 85–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kovač, M, Groeneveld, E, Garcia-Cortez, A 2003. VCE-5 user’s guide and reference manual version 5.1.2. Institute for Animal Science and Animal Husbandry, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, FAL), Mariensee/Neustadt, Germany.Google Scholar
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2005a. Prediction of breeding values for osseous fragments in fetlock and hock joints, deforming arthropathy in hock joints and pathologic changes in navicular bones of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Livestock Production Science 92, 77–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2005b. Expected response to selection when accounting for orthopedic health traits in a population of Warmblood riding horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 66, 1371–1379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2005c. Survey on the development of Hanoverian Warmblood horses selected for sale at auction in 1991 to 1998. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 25, 210–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2006a. Correlations between sport performance and different radiographic findings in the limbs of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Animal Science 82, 83–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2006b. Genetic correlations between osseous fragments in fetlock and hock joints, deforming arthropathy in hock joints and pathologic changes in the navicular bones of Warmblood riding horses. Livestock Science 105, 35–43 (available online since 24 July 2006, doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2006.04.027).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2006c. Genetic correlations between conformation traits and radiographic findings in the limbs of German Warmblood riding horses. Genetic Selection Evolution 38, 657–671.Google ScholarPubMed
Stock, KFDistl, O 2006d. Genetic correlations between conformation traits and radiographic findings in the limbs of German Warmblood riding horses. Genetic Selection Evolution 38, 657–671.Google ScholarPubMed
Stock, KF, Distl, O 2007. Genetic correlations between performance traits and radiographic findings in the limbs of German Warmblood riding horses. Journal of Animal Science 85, 31–41 (doi:10.2527/jas.2005-605).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stock, KF, Hamann, H, Distl, O 2004a. Variance component estimation on the frequency of deforming arthropathies in limb joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 121, 269–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Hamann, H, Distl, O 2004b. Variance component estimation on the frequency of pathologic changes in the navicular bones of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 121, 289–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stock, KF, Hamann, H, Distl, O 2004c. Factors associated with the prevalence of osseous fragments in limb joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. The Veterinary Journal 171, 147–156 (online since November 2004; doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.09.007).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stock, KF, Hamann, H, Distl, O 2005a. Prevalence of osseous fragments in limb joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A 52, 388–394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorén Hellsten, E, Viklund, Å, Koenen, EPC, Ricard, A, Bruns, E, Philipsson, J 2006. Review of genetic parameters estimated at stallion and young horse performance tests and their correlations with later results in dressage and show-jumping competition. Livestock Science 103, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vinson, WE, White, JM, Kliewer, RH 1976. Overall classification as a selection criterion for improving categorically scored components of type in Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 59, 2104–2114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallin, L, Strandberg, E, Philipsson, J, Dalin, G 2000. Estimates of longevity and causes of culling and death in Swedish warmblood and coldblood horses. Livestock Production Science 63, 275–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar