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Topic:Animal Science
Animal Science and horses encompass the study of equine biology, physiology, and management practices aimed at understanding and improving horse health, welfare, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines, including genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and behavior, to address the needs of horses in diverse contexts such as sports, work, and companionship. Research in this area often focuses on optimizing feeding strategies, enhancing breeding programs, and developing effective health management protocols. Additionally, studies explore the genetic factors influencing traits such as athleticism and disease resistance, as well as the impact of environmental and management conditions on horse behavior and welfare. This page gathers peer-reviewed research and scholarly articles that investigate the scientific principles underpinning equine science and their practical applications in horse care and management.
Somatic cell nuclear transfer as a complementary tool for genetic conservation of the Peruvian Paso horse. The Peruvian Paso horse, a breed of national significance in Peru known for its unique gait, has been selectively bred for nearly 500 years and now faces potential risks due to reduced genetic diversity. To investigate the potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer to enhance genetic conservation strategies, a program was initiated to produce cloned Peruvian Paso foals. Skin biopsies from a highly awarded stallion with exceptional breed-defining traits were used as the source of donor somatic cells. Of the 15 cloned embryos reconstructed, seven blastocysts were produced, and five were transfer...
Species-Specific Mechanisms of Sperm Transport: Predominant Roles of Motility in Ewes and Uterine Contractility in Mares. The factors controlling sperm transport within the female genital tract vary among species. The aim of this study was to quantify the respective roles of sperm motility and uterine contractions in passage of sperm within the reproductive tract of the mare and ewe. Sperm imaging was performed in vivo within the female genital tract of mares and ewes using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) after intrauterine insemination during two stages of the cycle characterized by high (oestrus) or low (luteal phase) uterine contractility. Fluorescent microbeads (2 µm in diameter) were insemi...
Combined effects of pre-freeze cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin and post-thaw pentoxifylline on the functional longevity of cryopreserved stallion sperm. Cryopreservation causes structural and metabolic damage to stallion spermatozoa, impairing post-thaw functional competence. Objective: This study evaluated whether cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) supplementation before freezing, combined with pentoxifylline (PTX) after thawing, improves the functional quality, oxidative status, mitochondrial activity, and preliminary fertility outcomes of cryopreserved stallion semen. Methods: Semen from twelve stallions was assigned to four CLC concentrations (0, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg), frozen, thawed, and divided into subgroups with or without PTX supplemen...
A Global Structural Variation Map Reveals Novel Variants for Body Conformation and Racing Ability in Horses. The selection of horses has been instrumental in shaping long-range mobility, advancing warfare strategies, and diversifying equine phenotypes. However, the structural variants (SVs) favored by this process remain largely unexplored. Utilizing high-fidelity Pacific Biosciences sequencing, we assembled three high-quality horse genomes, incorporating 237 Mb (9.48%) of novel sequences relative to the existing reference genome. These assemblies achieved an average Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs completeness of 95.1%. By employing a graph-based approach, we genotyped 23,163 high-con...
Environmental and genetic effects on measured hock bone proportions in young Polish Warmblood horses undergoing performance test training for breeding horses. The hock bone proportions in young Polish Warmblood horses (69) were studied based on x-ray image measurements done during official breeding horse performance testing. Six measurements were used to identify 4 width and length proportion indices. The radiological examinations were done before and after horse training, which consists of work with or without the rider at walk, trot and canter (40-50min) with some light class (< 100cm) jumping (<12 jumps) 6 days a week. The training effect was investigated using analysis of variance (procedure MIXED, Statistical Analysis System). The statist...
Three-year evaluation of anthelmintic treatment efficacy against equine strongyles in France using FECRT. Reduced anthelmintic efficacy against strongyles in equids is a widespread concern, but up-to-date field data are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate, over a three-year period, the efficacy of the anthelmintic (AH) molecules available in France (fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin and moxidectin) against strongyles in equids using faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs). A total of 104 complete FECRTs (i.e., required sample size reached) were conducted in 98 groups, involving 749 equids kept in 70 facilities. Fenbendazole-resistant populations were detected in 8/9 groups (89%) from ...
Phenotypic Definition Influences Genetic Inference and Predictive Ability for Reining Performance in Quarter Horses Using Random Regression Models. Reining performance is influenced by subjectivity and competition structure, challenging genetic evaluation. This study estimated genetic parameters for reining performance in Brazilian Quarter Horses using random regression models (RRM) and evaluated how alternative phenotypic definitions affect genetic inference and predictive ability. A dataset comprising 21,165 longitudinal records from 1603 horses was analyzed, comparing within-group rank (RANK) and Blom-transformed rank (BLOM). Model comparison indicated that cubic RRM provided the best fit for both phenotypes. Heritability estimates wer...
Growth Performance, Milk Productivity, Productive Longevity, and Milk Composition of Mugalzhar Horses. The Mugalzhar horse is an important native breed of Kazakhstan, valued for its adaptability, milk production, and meat productivity under extensive pasture-based management. This study evaluated the relationships among first-lactation milk yield, productive longevity, lifetime milk production, growth, morphometric traits, and milk composition in the Mugalzhar horse breed using data from 100 mares with complete lifetime production records, 108 adult mares and 12 stallions for morphometric evaluation, and 68 foals (35 colts and 33 fillies) for growth analysis. The study was conducted on Mugalzha...
Phenotypic and genetic factors that affect the likelihood of Standardbred foals achieving a race start. This study was conducted to quantify the probability of a Standardbred foal attaining early career milestones and to estimate some environmental and genetic factors that influence achievement of those milestones. Data for all Standardbred foals registered at birth in New Zealand from 1995 to 2018 were used to estimate variance components and fixed effects influencing attainment of three early-career traits; registered with trainer (REG), starting in a trial (TRIAL) and starting in a race (RACE). The study population comprised 65,256 foals. Of these, 65.5% attained REG, 55.4% progressed to TRIA...
Global distribution of cattle, horses, goats, sheep and buffaloes at 1 km resolution for 2000-2022 based on subnational census data and spatiotemporal machine learning. The article describes the production and evaluation of annual livestock densities and headcounts of cattle, horses, sheep, goats and buffaloes (including 95% probability prediction intervals) at 1 km spatial resolution for the 2000-2022 period using spatiotemporal machine learning. A compilation of subnational livestock census data has been imported, harmonized and used as reference data (55,336 census polygons and 939,257 individual data entries; covering 147 countries) to build predictive models. A large stack of multi-source harmonized raster data sets (128 individual layers) were used as f...
Demographic change and selection patterns in thoroughbred racing horses over the 20th century. The Thoroughbred horse is a legacy of centuries of selective breeding for speed, emerging from the admixture of British mares and imported Oriental stallions. While previous work explored its genetic diversity, inbreeding, and selection signatures, the breed demographic and selection dynamics during the 20-century remain poorly understood. Here, we sequenced the genome of Phar Lap, a late-1920s/early-1930s racing champion, and analyzed the largest time-series of Thoroughbred whole-genome sequences, within a global panel of 850 horse genomes. Demographic modeling reveals a marked decline in gen...
Preliminary Metabolomic Analysis: Serum Metabolomic Dynamics During Estrus Synchronization in Kazakh Mares. This study aimed to analyze the differences in serum metabolomes at different stages of estrus synchronization in Kazakh horses, to characterize dynamic changes in serum metabolites during estrus synchronization, and to screen potential metabolic markers and key regulatory pathways. Four sampling stages (M1: intravaginal device insertion; M3: device removal, labeled consistently with the pre-experiment timeline; P: 24 h post-PG injection; L: tertiary follicle emergence) were selected. The research results showed that 37 significantly different metabolites (DAMs) were identified in the M1-vs.-M...
Sequencing and Differential Analysis of miRNA in the Ovaries of Kazakh Horses During Estrus and Anestrus States. To reveal the regulatory role of miRNA in the estrous cycle transition of Kazakh horse ovaries and improve their reproductive efficiency, this study took the ovaries of Kazakh horses in the estrus period (DY group) and the quiescent period (DB group) as research objects. Small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to systematically analyze the expression characteristics and functional pathways of miRNA under the two physiological states. A total of 161 million high-quality miRNA tags were obtained through sequencing. Principal component analysis showed that the intra-group repea...
Isolation of high-quality stallion spermatozoa: a comparison of methods and their effects on sperm quality and yield, DNA damage, and functional competence by ICSI. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the primary method for equine in vitro embryo production, yet outcomes may be influenced by sperm selection techniques. Objective: This study compared four isolation methods: EquiPure™, Vetmotl™, Felix™, and Samson™, to assess effects on sperm quality and embryo development. Methods: Semen was collected from four fertile stallions, processed and evaluated for sperm motility, viability, DNA integrity, and yield of high-quality cells relative to input. Isolated samples were compared to non-isolated (centrifuged) samples. Spermatozoa were used fo...
Simple and efficient HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous extraction and quantification of anthelmintics in equine manure. Anthelmintic treatment is a common practice in horses. The presence of pharmaceutical residues in fields and pastures is well-documented affecting various organisms, like nematodes. This study describes the development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) for extracting and determining the concentrations of four commonly used anthelmintics in horse manure. Manure was initially dried, then spiked with various concentrations (10-10,000 ng) of anthelmintics and extracted using an acetonit...
Sensory-driven neck-limb coordination mechanisms for walk-trot-gallop gait transitions. Quadruped animals exhibit various gait patterns and switch from one to another depending on their speed. These gait patterns involve complex whole-body coordination and are mainly controlled by a distributed neural network consisting of central pattern generators (CPGs) and peripheral sensory feedback. However, how these neural networks generate various types of whole-body coordination remains unclear. Here, we focus on horse locomotion and present a neural network model that reproduces walk-trot-gallop transitions by changing only a single parameter related to speed. This model uses ground re...
Reply to Henshall et al. Commentary on “MacKechnie-Guire et al. Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face. Animals 2025, 15, 537”. In a paper published in 2017, Doherty et al [...].
Seroprevalence and risk factors of African horse sickness in equines in central Gondar, Ethiopia. African horse sickness is a severe vector-borne viral disease of equines, associated with high mortality and substantial economic losses. In Ethiopia, where equines are essential for transport and agriculture, the disease remains endemic, yet epidemiological data are limited in many areas. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and describe variation in seropositivity across selected factors in equines in the Central Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to August 2025, during which 384 serum samples were...
Platelet indices’ dynamic in broodmares: Effects of parity and lactation. Lactation and parity are physiological factors influencing platelet (PLT) indices, yet their combined effects in mares remain poorly characterized. As a dynamic process, lactation involves metabolic and endocrine changes that may influence thrombopoiesis; therefore, reproductive history and lactation stage may modulate PLT indices. Objective: To characterize longitudinal platelet (PLT) indices during early lactation in mares and evaluate the influence of parity on thrombopoietic responses. Methods: Fifty-five clinically healthy Spanish Purebred mares were included (20 primiparous and 25 multip...
When genes meet money: Genotype-by-prize interaction in Quarter Horses. Barrel racing performance reflects a complex interplay among genetic merit, rider ability, training strategies, and competition-specific conditions. In practice, events differ substantially in their economic scale, and prize money can serve as a proxy for management intensity, rider expertise, and selection pressure. Objective: This study investigated whether economic stratification, represented by total prize money per event, is associated with changes in (co)variance components for barrel racing time in Brazilian Quarter Horses. Methods: A reaction-norm model was implemented using 349,262 ra...
Genetic Indicators of Performance Resilience in Barrel Racing Quarter Horses. Resilience, defined as the capacity to maintain consistent performance under variable conditions, has emerged as a relevant breeding objective in livestock systems, yet remains largely unexplored in equine populations. The objectives of this study were to (1) derive indicators of resilience from longitudinal barrel racing time (BRT) records in Brazilian Quarter Horses, (2) estimate genetic parameters for these indicators, and (3) quantify their genetic relationships with BRT and accumulated career earnings (ACE). The dataset comprised BRT records from barrel racing events held between 2010 and...
Genomic diversity and historical legacy of Baroque horses: a living cultural heritage. Baroque horses represent a distinctive group of breeds that emerged mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries, shaped by the demands of European royalty and their courts. Although recognised as separate breeds, they share common ancestry, breeding goals, and historical gene flow. This study aimed to evaluate their genomic diversity, population structure, and admixture patterns. We analysed 1 160 individuals from eight breeds - Lipizzan, Old Kladruby Horse, Pura Raza Española, Lusitano, Friesian, Criollo, Peruvian Paso, and Puerto Rican Paso Fino - using 34 026 single-nucleotide polymorphis...
Behaviour and Movement Activity of Stallions and Geldings in Group Housing. There has been little research on the social behaviour of stallions and geldings kept together in group housing systems. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in behaviour and movement activity between stallions and geldings kept together in group housing. Behavioural observations and GPS measurements were conducted in Germany from July to September 2024 in four mixed groups of horses in Germany. The groups comprised 35 animals, 18 stallions and 17 geldings. The horses were observed for three consecutive days over eight hours per day. No injuries or stereotypic behaviours were o...
Factors Influencing Equine Embryo Outcomes in OPU‑ICSI Systems: Insights from a Large‑Scale Program in Brazil. Equine OPU‑ICSI supports commercial IVEP, yet substantial variability persists. We retrospectively analyzed a large dataset generated in Brazil spanning Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, and Mangalarga to evaluate whether predictors previously identified in the literature show comparable patterns under distinct ecological and breeding conditions. Overall oocyte and embryo outcomes were aligned with broadly reported trends from previous studies. Oocytes retrieved from estrous mares bearing a dominant follicle exhibited higher maturation and blastocyst rates. Stallion effects segregated into distinc...
Spatiotemporal dynamics of equine group formation reveal the gradual emergence of social cohesion. Stable social relationships are essential for horse welfare, yet domestic management often involves regrouping unfamiliar individuals, potentially causing social stress. Fine-scale dynamics of social integration remain poorly quantified due to limitations of observational sampling. Using ultra-wideband real-time positioning, we tracked the development of spatial and social relationships in two newly formed equine groups (n = 19) over 2-12 months. Inter-individual distances decreased significantly, with time spent within 3 m of conspecifics increasing from 1.2 to 27.3% within two months, d...
Genetic Diversity in Domestic Horses: Temporal Patterns, the Influence of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and Implications for the American Quarter Horse. Genetic diversity is the heritable variation within and among populations and is essential for the long-term health and selection potential of domestic horses. Previous studies show diversity across breeds is shaped by effective population size, founder events, artificial selection, and levels of inbreeding. While some closed-studbook breeds retain moderate genetic diversity, others have experienced rapid losses due to popular-sire effects and recent and extensive inbreeding. Even so, mare lines continue to help maintain genetic diversity within these populations. Assisted Reproductive Technol...
Determining optimal practices for foal weaning – A protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Weaning is a stressful time in a foal's (Equus caballus) life. As humans artificially manage weaning in domestic horses, it provides an opportunity to safeguard horse welfare early in life, with potential long-term benefits. While numerous studies have examined the effects of different weaning and management interventions on foal stress, optimal weaning practices have yet to be identified. Overall purpose of the study: To identify which weaning interventions and management practices have the greatest potential to improve foal welfare based on physiological and behavioural outcomes. Research qu...
Identification of Genomic Differences Resulting from Selection in Iranian Kurdish and Turkmen Horse Breeds Using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Breakthroughs in genomic technologies have enabled the formulation of methods to identify genomic variation in domestic animal species. Detection of the variation is necessary because it is associated with breed characteristics and economic importance in domestic animal genetics. Unassigned: This study aimed to identify the genomic regions in Turkmen and Kurdish horse breeds that have been the target of different selections over many years. It also sought to locate the genes and Quantitative trait loci (QTL) in these regions that contributed to the differentiation of these two breeds or the di...
