Basal Reactivity Evaluated by Infrared Thermography in the “Caballo de Deporte Español” Horse Breed According to Its Coat Color.
Abstract: Horses have been valued for their diversity of coat color since prehistoric times. In particular, the pleiotropic effect that coat color genes have on behavior determines the way the horse perceives and reacts to its environment. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of coat color on basal reactivity assessed with infrared thermography as eye temperature at rest (ETR), determine their relation with the results obtained by these horses in Show Jumping competitions and to estimate the genetic parameters for this variable to test its suitability for genetic selection. A General Linear Model (GLM) and Duncan post-hoc analysis indicated differences in ETR due to coat color, sex, age, location, and breed-group factors. A Spearman’s rank correlation of 0.11 (p < 0.05) was found with ranking, indicating that less reactive horses were more likely to achieve better rankings. Heritability values ranged from 0.17 to 0.22 and were computed with a model with genetic groups and a model with residual variance heterogeneity. Breeding values were higher with the last genetic model, thus demonstrating the pleiotropic effect of coat color. These results indicate that ETR has a suitable genetic basis to be used in the breeding program to select for basal reactivity due to coat color.
Publication Date: 2022-09-21 PubMed ID: 36230256PubMed Central: PMC9559532DOI: 10.3390/ani12192515Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.
The research studied the relationship between the coat color of Spanish Sport Horses and their basal reactivity, and how this influences their performance in show jumping competitions. The study found that there are differences in reactivity due to factors such as coat color, age, and breed, and suggests that coat color could be used in breeding programs to select for certain reactivity traits.
Study Objective
- The main aim of the research was to determine if coat color influences the basal reactivity of Spanish Sport Horses. Basal reactivity was measured using infrared thermography to determine eye temperature at rest (ETR).
- The study also sought to evaluate the relationship between these reactivity measures and the performance of the horses in show jumping competitions.
- The researchers also explored the possibility of using these findings in genetic selection in breeding programs.
Methodology and Results
- A General Linear Model (GLM) and Duncan post-hoc analysis were used in the research. These analytical tools revealed differences in ETR due to various factors, including coat color, sex, age, location, and breed-group factors.
- Moreover, a Spearman’s rank correlation of 0.11 was found between the rankings in show jumping competitions and reactivity – less reactive horses gaining better rankings.
Genetic Implications and Breeding
- The heritability values for reactivity due to coat color were found to range from 0.17 to 0.22. These were computed based on a model with genetic groups as well as a model with residual variance heterogeneity.
- The breeding values were found to be higher with the latter genetic model, indicating the pleiotropic effect of coat color (the capability of a gene to influence multiple phenotypic traits).
- These results suggest that ETR, and by extension, the coat color that influences it, have a suitable genetic basis to be used in breeding programs for selecting horses for desired basal reactivity traits.
Cite This Article
APA
Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Ripollés-Lobo M, Valera M.
(2022).
Basal Reactivity Evaluated by Infrared Thermography in the “Caballo de Deporte Español” Horse Breed According to Its Coat Color.
Animals (Basel), 12(19).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192515 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Agronomy, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica (ETSIA), University of Seville, Utrera Rd. Km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain.
- Department of Agronomy, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica (ETSIA), University of Seville, Utrera Rd. Km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain.
- Department of Agronomy, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica (ETSIA), University of Seville, Utrera Rd. Km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain.
- Department of Agronomy, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica (ETSIA), University of Seville, Utrera Rd. Km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Karlau A, Azcona F, Molina A, Trigo P, Sánchez-Serrano JP, Demyda-Peyrás S. Exploring the Genetic Link Between Coat Colour and Morphological Traits: The Case of Peruano de Paso Horse. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 17;15(18).
- Encina A, Ligero M, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Rodríguez-Sainz de Los Terreros A, Bartolomé E, Valera M. Phenotypic and Genetic Study of the Presence of Hair Whorls in Pura Raza Español Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 16;13(18).
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