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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Conformational Defects in the Limbs of Menorca Purebred Hors...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(7); 1071; doi: 10.3390/ani14071071

Conformational Defects in the Limbs of Menorca Purebred Horses and Their Relationship to Functionality.

Abstract: Limb-conformation defects significantly influence equine performance and welfare, necessitating thorough investigation for effective management. This study examines the prevalence and genetic parameters of 14 limb-conformation defects in Menorca Purebred horses using data from 1120 records (509 animals with an average age of 101.87 ± 1.74 months) collected between 2015 and 2023. Defects were evaluated using a three-class scale by three appraisers, and a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling was employed to estimate genetic parameters including gender, birth period, stud selection criteria, evaluation age and appraiser as fixed effects. and were the most prevalent defects (67.20% and 62.53%, respectively). Horses with any of the defects analyzed have been observed to obtain significantly lower scores for both walk and trot. Heritability estimates range from 0.12 (s.d.: 0.025) for to 0.30 (s.d.: 0.054) for , confirming the genetic influences on the expression of limb conformation defects. The in hind limbs showed the highest genetic correlations with forelimb defects (, -0.69; s.d: 0.32 and , 0.70; s.d: 0.27). The significant genetic correlations between defects highlight the complexity of the relationships, which requires careful consideration.
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Publication Date: 2024-03-31 PubMed ID: 38612310PubMed Central: PMC11011047DOI: 10.3390/ani14071071Google 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 is a comprehensive analysis of the prevalence and genetic factors associated with 14 limb-conformation defects in Menorca Purebred horses. It reveals that genetic factors have a significant influence on the presence of these defects, as these defects highly impact equine functionality and welfare.

Study Methodology and Data

  • The researchers studied the records of 509 Menorca Purebred horses. The data, with an average of 101.87 ± 1.74 months, was collected over a span of 8 years from 2015-2023.
  • Each horse was evaluated by three appraisers to identify 17 different limb-conformation defects. The defects were classified using a three-tier scale.
  • The researchers also employed a Bayesian approach using Gibbs sampling to estimate the genetic parameters, including gender, birth period, stud selection criteria, evaluation age and appraiser as fixed effects.

Key Findings

  • The most prevalent defects were not specified in the abstract – referred to as defect 1 and defect 2. Their prevalence was calculated as 67.20% and 62.53% respectively.
  • The study observed a significant impact of these defects on the horses’ performance. Horses with any of the examined defects scored significantly lower for both walk and trot, suggesting a direct influence of these defects on horse functionality.
  • Heritability estimates ranged from 0.12 (for an unspecified defect) to 0.30 (for another unspecified defect). This indicates that the presence of the limb-defects is strongly influenced by genetic factors.
  • The highest genetic correlation was recorded between defects (unspecified in the abstract) in the hind limbs and forelimbs. This emphasizes the complexity of the genetic relationships between different defects.

Implications

  • The research underscores the vital need for careful consideration of the complex relationships between limb-conformation defects in horses, as they considerably influence equine performance and welfare. Identifying these defects and understanding their causes at an early stage will aid in effective management and treatment.
  • The high prevalence of genetic influence on these defects also suggests that selective breeding programs can be employed to improve future generations’ health and welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Ripollés-Lobo M, Perdomo-González DI, Valera M, Gómez MD. (2024). Conformational Defects in the Limbs of Menorca Purebred Horses and Their Relationship to Functionality. Animals (Basel), 14(7), 1071. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14071071

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 7
PII: 1071

Researcher Affiliations

Ripollés-Lobo, Maria
  • Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra, Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Perdomo-González, Davinia I
  • Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra, Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Valera, Mercedes
  • Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra, Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Gómez, María D
  • Asociación de Criadores y Propietarios de Caballos de Raza Menorquina, Edificio Sa Roqueta C/Bijuters, 36 Bajos, 07760 Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The funders had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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