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Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie2006; 123(2); 114-121; doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00569.x

Analysis of pedigree and conformation data to explain genetic variability of the horse breed Franches-Montagnes.

Abstract: Franches-Montagnes is the only native horse breed in Switzerland, therefore special efforts should be made for ensuring its survival. The objectives of this study were to characterize the structure of this population as well as genetic variability with pedigree data, conformation traits and molecular markers. Studies were focused to clarify if this population is composed of a heavy- and a light-type subpopulation. Extended pedigree records of 3-year-old stallions (n = 68) and mares (n = 108) were available. Evaluations of body conformation traits as well as pedigree data and molecular markers did not support the two-subpopulation hypothesis. The generation interval ranged from 7.8 to 9.3 years. The complete generation equivalent was high (>12). The number of effective ancestors varied between 18.9 and 20.1, whereof 50% of the genetic variability was attributed to seven of them. Genetic contribution of Warmblood horses ranged from 36% to 42% and that of Coldblood horses from 4% to 6%. The average inbreeding coefficient reached 6%. Inbreeding effective population size was 114.5 when the average increase of the inbreeding coefficient per year since 1910 was taken. Our results suggest that bottleneck situations occurred because of selection of a small number of sire lines. Promotion of planned matings between parents that are less related is recommended in order to avoid a reduction of the genetic diversity.
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Publication Date: 2006-03-15 PubMed ID: 16533365DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00569.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper delves into the analysis of pedigree and conformation data to understand the genetic diversity of the Franches-Montagnes horse breed. The research does not support the existing hypothesis of the breed consisting of two subpopulations, and it reveals that a small number of sire lines led to bottlenecks in genetic diversity.

Study Population and Methods

  • The Franches-Montagnes horse breed, native to Switzerland, was the focus of this research. It aimed to decipher the structure and genetic variability of this breed.
  • The research primarily revolved around the analysis of extended pedigree data of 3-year-old stallions (68 in total) and mares (108 in total).
  • Further investigations ensued on conformation traits and molecular markers of the breed.

Investigation and Findings

  • Despite existing assumptions, this study found no evidence to support the hypothesis suggesting the existence of a heavy- and a light-type subpopulation within the breed.
  • The examined generation interval in these horses ranged from 7.8 to 9.3 years. They found a notably high complete generation equivalent of over 12 years.
  • Effective ancestors in the population varied between 18.9 and 20.1 individuals, with more than half of the genetic variability attributed to seven ancestors.

Genetic Contributions and Inbreeding

  • The genetic contribution of Warmblood horses was estimated to be between 36% to 42% and that of Coldblood horses constituted 4% to 6%.
  • The study found an average inbreeding coefficient of 6%. When concretizing the average increase in the inbreeding coefficient per year starting from 1910, the effective inbreeding population size reached 114.5.

Bottlenecking and Recommendations for Genetic Diversity

  • The researchers suggest that bottleneck situations occurred within the breed due to selection of a limited number of sire lines, leading to a narrow genetic diversity.
  • To prevent a further reduction in genetic diversity, the researchers recommend promoting planned, strategic matings between parents with less relatedness.

Cite This Article

APA
Poncet PA, Pfister W, Muntwyler J, Glowatzki-Mullis ML, Gaillard C. (2006). Analysis of pedigree and conformation data to explain genetic variability of the horse breed Franches-Montagnes. J Anim Breed Genet, 123(2), 114-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00569.x

Publication

Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie
ISSN: 0931-2668
NlmUniqueID: 100955807
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 123
Issue: 2
Pages: 114-121

Researcher Affiliations

Poncet, P A
  • Haras National, Avenches, Switzerland. pierre-andre.poncet@mbox.haras.admin.ch
Pfister, W
    Muntwyler, J
      Glowatzki-Mullis, M L
        Gaillard, C

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Female
          • Genetic Variation
          • Genotype
          • Horses / classification
          • Horses / genetics
          • Inbreeding
          • Male
          • Microsatellite Repeats
          • Pedigree
          • Switzerland

          Citations

          This article has been cited 9 times.
          1. Gmel AI, Burren A, Neuditschko M. Estimates of Genetic Parameters for Shape Space Data in Franches-Montagnes Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 25;12(17).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12172186pubmed: 36077906google scholar: lookup
          2. Klein R, Oláh J, Mihók S, Posta J. Pedigree-Based Description of Three Traditional Hungarian Horse Breeds. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 14;12(16).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12162071pubmed: 36009663google scholar: lookup
          3. Nosková A, Bhati M, Kadri NK, Crysnanto D, Neuenschwander S, Hofer A, Pausch H. Characterization of a haplotype-reference panel for genotyping by low-pass sequencing in Swiss Large White pigs. BMC Genomics 2021 Apr 21;22(1):290.
            doi: 10.1186/s12864-021-07610-5pubmed: 33882824google scholar: lookup
          4. Beeson SK, Mickelson JR, McCue ME. Exploration of fine-scale recombination rate variation in the domestic horse. Genome Res 2019 Oct;29(10):1744-1752.
            doi: 10.1101/gr.243311.118pubmed: 31434677google scholar: lookup
          5. Frischknecht M, Neuditschko M, Jagannathan V, Drögemüller C, Tetens J, Thaller G, Leeb T, Rieder S. Imputation of sequence level genotypes in the Franches-Montagnes horse breed. Genet Sel Evol 2014 Oct 1;46(1):63.
            doi: 10.1186/s12711-014-0063-7pubmed: 25927638google scholar: lookup
          6. Petersen JL, Mickelson JR, Cleary KD, McCue ME. The American Quarter Horse: population structure and relationship to the thoroughbred. J Hered 2014 Mar-Apr;105(2):148-62.
            doi: 10.1093/jhered/est079pubmed: 24293614google scholar: lookup
          7. Signer-Hasler H, Flury C, Haase B, Burger D, Simianer H, Leeb T, Rieder S. A genome-wide association study reveals loci influencing height and other conformation traits in horses. PLoS One 2012;7(5):e37282.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037282pubmed: 22615965google scholar: lookup
          8. Barsi B, Oláh J, Posta J. Analysis of Population Structure in Hungarian Coldblood Horses Based on Pedigree Information. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 13;15(10).
            doi: 10.3390/ani15101406pubmed: 40427284google scholar: lookup
          9. Gmel AI, Mikko S, Ricard A, Velie BD, Gerber V, Hamilton NA, Neuditschko M. Using high-density SNP data to unravel the origin of the Franches-Montagnes horse breed. Genet Sel Evol 2024 Jul 10;56(1):53.
            doi: 10.1186/s12711-024-00922-6pubmed: 38987703google scholar: lookup
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