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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Genet / Comparison of blood parameters in two genetically different ...
Frontiers in genetics2024; 15; 1455790; doi: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1455790

Comparison of blood parameters in two genetically different groups of horses for functional longevity in show jumping.

Abstract: In order to find early selection criteria to improve the longevity of show jumping horses, a specific protocol was designed. Unassigned: Before entering competition, young horses selected from extreme stallions for longevity were measured for many traits, including blood parameters. Blood samples were taken from 952 horses aged 2-4 years old, sired by two groups of stallions: one with unfavorable (U) and the other with favorable (F) extreme estimated breeding values for functional longevity. These breeding values were previously calculated from data on 202,320 horses that participated in show jumping competitions between 1985 and 2022. Functional longevity was defined as time spent in competition, adjusted for the level of performance. The 59 measured parameters included hematology, proteins, cytokines, liver and kidney function, bone and joint health, oxidative stress and endocrinology. Heritability was estimated using a mixed model that accounted for the effect of age, sex, estimated weight, visit (place and date of collection), and animal random additive value with 10,280 horses in pedigree. A Partial Least Square logistic regression was performed to predict the sire group. Unassigned: Age, sex and estimated weight significantly affected 36, 19 and 16 variables, respectively. The visit had a significant effect on all variables. Heritability estimates were high, with 75% higher than 0.20% and 30% higher than 0.50. The most heritable traits included mean corpuscular volume (0.92, se 0.11), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (0.90, se 0.11), white blood cells (0.55, se 0.13), total alkaline phosphatase (0.68, se 0.12) and percentage of γ-globulin (0.57, se 0.12). The logistic regression that predicted the group of sires favorable for longevity identified 16 significant variables. Key findings included: lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p-value < 0.001), lower mean corpuscular volume (p-value < 0.001), lower number of white blood cells (p-value < 0.01), higher percentage of intestinal and bone alkaline phosphatase (p-value < 0.01) for a lower total alkaline phosphatase (p-value < 0.01), higher percentage of α2-globulin (p-value < 0.001) and lower percentage of β1-globulin (p-value < 0.01). Unassigned: Blood parameters measured at rest in young horses may be predictive of their genetic value for functional longevity in show jumping.
Copyright © 2024 Harari, Deretz, Dumont Saint Priest, Richard and Ricard.
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Publication Date: 2024-10-29 PubMed ID: 39534078PubMed Central: PMC11554460DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1455790Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research aimed to identify potential early selection criteria for improving the lifespan of show jumping horses by comparing blood parameters in two genetically different horse groups.

Study Design and Participants

In this study, blood samples were obtained from 952 horses aged between 2-4 years. They were offspring from two groups of stallions. One group had unfavorable breeding values for functional longevity (U) and the other had favorable breeding values (F). The breeding values were previously calculated using data from over 202,320 show jumping horses during the period from 1985 to 2022. Functional longevity, in this context, is defined as the time spent in competition, taking into account the level of performance achieved.

Measured Parameters

  • The research looked at 59 different parameters. These fell into various categories including hematology, proteins, cytokines, liver and kidney function, bone and joint health, oxidative stress, and endocrinology.
  • A total of ten parameters, including age, sex, estimated weight, place, and date of collection, were considered in calculating heritability estimates using a mixed model. The model also accounted for the additive values of 10,280 horses in the pedigree.

Results and Key Findings

  • Variables significantly affected by age, sex and estimated weight were 36, 19 and 16 respectively.
  • The place and date of collection had a significant impact on all variables.
  • Heritability estimates were high with 75% of parameters displaying estimates greater than 0.20% and 30% of parameters exhibiting estimates higher than 0.50%.
  • The most heritable traits were mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cells, total alkaline phosphatase, and percentage of γ-globulin.
  • Logistic regression analysis identified 16 significant variables that predicted the group of sires favorable for longevity. Key findings entailed lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin, lower mean corpuscular volume, lower number of white blood cells, a higher percentage of intestinal and bone alkaline phosphatase for a lower total alkaline phosphatase, higher percentage of α2-globulin and lower percentage of β1-globulin.

Conclusion

The research suggests that studying blood parameters in young horses could serve as a predictive tool for their genetic potential for longevity in show jumping. Hence, this approach may contribute to early selection processes for showjumping horses, aiming at enhancing their lifespan in the activity.

Cite This Article

APA
Harari S, Deretz S, Dumont Saint Priest B, Richard E, Ricard A. (2024). Comparison of blood parameters in two genetically different groups of horses for functional longevity in show jumping. Front Genet, 15, 1455790. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2024.1455790

Publication

Frontiers in genetics
ISSN: 1664-8021
NlmUniqueID: 101560621
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Pages: 1455790

Researcher Affiliations

Harari, Suzanne
  • Université Paris Saclay, Institut National de Recherche Pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, AgroParisTech, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle développement, innovation et recherche, Saumur, France.
Deretz, Severine
  • Université Paris Saclay, Institut National de Recherche Pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, AgroParisTech, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Dumont Saint Priest, Bernard
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle développement, innovation et recherche, Saumur, France.
Richard, Eric
  • EA 7450 BIOTARGEN, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France.
Ricard, Anne
  • Université Paris Saclay, Institut National de Recherche Pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, AgroParisTech, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle développement, innovation et recherche, Saumur, France.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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