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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(15); 2232; doi: 10.3390/ani14152232

Breeding Value Estimation Based on Morphological Evaluation of the Maremmano Horse Population through Factor Analysis.

Abstract: Morphological scoring is a common evaluation method for domestic animals. The National Association of Maremmano Breeders (ANAM) has provided a dataset containing the records of 600 horses, four metric measurements (cm) and 24 traits with a continuous evaluation scale, each one with 15 classes. Moreover, a body condition score (BCS) with five classes is included. In this study, factor analysis was conducted to create a small number of informative factors (3) obtained from these traits, and a new BLUP-AM-MT index was established. The New Estimated Breeding Value (NEBV1) of each horse was computed by adding the genetic indexes of the three factors, with each one multiplied using a coefficient indicated by ANAM. The practical feasibility of the NEBV1 was evaluated through Spearman correlations between the rankings of the NEBV1 and the rankings of the BLUP-AM-MT, estimated through the four biometric measures and the morphological score (MS) assigned to each horse by the ANAM judges. The factorial analysis was used to estimate three factors: the "Trunk Dimension", "Legs" and "Length". As the explained variance was only 32%, the model was rotated, and the heritability of the three factors were 0.51, 0.05 and 0.41, respectively. After rotation, the estimated correlations between the new NEBV1 and the biometric measures were improved. These results should encourage breeders to adopt a breeding value index that takes into consideration the factors derived from all the variables observed in the morphological evaluation of the Maremmano. In this way, breeders can use it to select the best animals for breeding.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-31 PubMed ID: 39123761PubMed Central: PMC11310958DOI: 10.3390/ani14152232Google 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 study applies morphological scoring to a population of Maremmano horses and uses factor analysis to estimate breeding values. As a result, the research proposes a new breeding value index for the Maremmano breed by taking into account a wide array of variables observed in the horse’s structure.

Objective of the Research

  • The authors aimed to study and analyze the morphological traits of the Maremmano horse breed provided by the National Association of Maremmano Breeders (ANAM) to create a comprehensive and efficient breeding value index for selecting the best horses for breeding.

Methodology

  • The authors used a dataset provided by the ANAM, containing records of 600 horses, to conduct this research. The information included four measurements in centimeters (cm) and 24 traits, each with 15 classes, in addition to a body condition score (BCS) with five classes.
  • The study involved factor analysis to derive three informative factors (“Trunk Dimension”, “Legs”, and “Length”) from the 24 traits. They then established a new BLUP-AM-MT index (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Animal Model Multiple Traits index).
  • The New Estimated Breeding Value (NEBV1) for each horse was then calculated by adding the genetic indexes of the three factors, each multiplied by a coefficient specified by ANAM.

Results and Interpretation

  • The authors estimated the explained variance and found it to be only 32% for the initial model. As a result, they performed a rotation to improve the correlation between NEBV1 and the biometric measures.
  • Post-rotation, there was an improvement in the correlations. The computed heritability of the three factors were 0.51, 0.05, and 0.41, respectively, showing genetic implications for these traits.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The results suggest that the new NEBV1 could offer better insights into the best horses for breeding. The proposed breeding value index takes into account several physical traits, supplementing breeders’ assessments, and aiding them in their selection of the best breeding horses.
  • This scientific approach of calculating the breeding value using comprehensive morphological evaluation encourages breeders to select the best animals for breeding based on more accurate and detailed data.

Cite This Article

APA
Giontella A, Silvestrelli M, Cocciolone A, Pieramati C, Sarti FM. (2024). Breeding Value Estimation Based on Morphological Evaluation of the Maremmano Horse Population through Factor Analysis. Animals (Basel), 14(15), 2232. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152232

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 15
PII: 2232

Researcher Affiliations

Giontella, Andrea
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine-Sportive Horse Research Center, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Silvestrelli, Maurizio
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine-Sportive Horse Research Center, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Cocciolone, Alessandro
  • Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
Pieramati, Camillo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine-Sportive Horse Research Center, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Sarti, Francesca Maria
  • Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors of the present study declare that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest, including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the work submitted that could have inappropriately influenced the present work.

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