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Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience2014; 8(2); 184-191; doi: 10.1017/S1751731113002061

Genetic and environmental analysis of dystocia and stillbirths in draft horses.

Abstract: Genetic parameters and environmental factors were estimated for foaling ease (FE) and stillbirths (SBs) in four breeds of draft horses based on 11 229, 38 877, 35 764 and 13 274 FE and SB scores recorded between 1998 and 2010 for Ardennais (A), Breton (B), Comtois (C) and Percheron (P), respectively. Incidences for the three FE categories were: easy or without help 91.0% (A) to 95.4% (B), difficult 3.4% (B) to 7.1% (A) and intervention of a veterinarian 1.1% (B) to 1.9% (A). The frequency of SB ranged between 5.4% (B) and 9.4% (A). A multiple-trait threshold animal model was used that included the effects of sex of foal, region, month, year of foaling, combined maternal age and parity, direct genetic, maternal genetic and permanent environments. Estimates were obtained using Markov Chain Monte Carlo Gibbs sampling. The most unfavourable effect was first parity, which decreased the probability of easy foaling to 78.6% for A and 88.3% for B. Interaction with age showed that the risk for first foaling for mares aged 3 years was higher than at 4 or 5 to 9 years. This was also observed for SB with an increased probability of SB at first foaling of 17.9% (A) or 9.6% (B). The most unfavourable month was found to be the most frequent month for foaling (April) and not the most demanding months weather-wise (winter). For FE, direct heritabilities were A 0.27 (0.06), B 0.14 (0.03), C 0.18 (0.03) and P 0.18 (0.04), and maternal heritabilities were A 0.25 (0.06), B 0.19 (0.04), C 0.12 (0.03) and P 0.21 (0.06). Genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects were A -0.29 (0.14), B -0.39 (0.12), C -0.09 (0.14) and P -0.54 (0.17). For SB, direct heritabilities were A 0.52 (0.09), B 0.42 (0.04), C 0.28 (0.04) and P 0.39 (0.05), and maternal heritabilities were A 0.25 (0.05), B 0.10 (0.02), C 0.07 (0.02) and P 0.14 (0.02). Genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects were A -0.85 (0.06), B -0.63 (0.06), C -0.64 (0.11) and P -0.69 (0.06). Direct genetic correlations between FE and SB traits were A 0.60 (0.10), B 0.58 (0.10), C 0.36 (0.10) and P 0.29 (0.15). Maternal genetic correlations between FE and SB traits were A 0.67 (0.10), B 0.47 (0.13), C 0.28 (0.15) and P 0.39 (0.15). These estimates are posterior means of the Gibbs samples and are within the upper limits of comparable results reported in cattle.
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Publication Date: 2014-01-18 PubMed ID: 24433956PubMed Central: PMC3905470DOI: 10.1017/S1751731113002061Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigates the genetic and environmental factors impacting foaling ease and stillbirths in four breeds of draft horses. It reveals impacts of factors such as maternal age, sex of foal, and month of foaling and estimates genetic correlations and heritabilities for these traits.

Study Scope and Methodology

  • The study focuses on four breeds of draft horses: Ardennais (A), Breton (B), Comtois (C), and Percheron (P). It considers 11 229, 38 877, 35 764 and 13 274 scores for foaling ease (FE) and stillbirths (SBs) recorded from 1998 to 2010.
  • The method used for estimation is the multiple-trait threshold animal model. The study considers factors such as sex of the foal, region, month, year of foaling, combined maternal age and parity. It also includes estimates of direct genetic, maternal genetic and permanent environments.
  • The estimates are obtained using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo Gibbs sampling method, a form of a random walk that explores different points in the parameter space with probabilities proportional to their posterior value.

Key Findings

  • The incidences for the recorded three FE categories were: easy or without help – 91.0% (A) to 95.4% (B), points to a high natural foaling ease; difficult – 3.4% (B) to 7.1% (A), implies a certain percentage of foaling requires human intervention; and veterinary help – 1.1% (B) to 1.9% (A), indicates extreme cases where professional medical assistance was required.
  • The frequency of SB ranged from 5.4% in B to 9.4% in A, signaling that these types of horse breeds can experience relatively high stillbirth rates.
  • First parity decreases the probability of easy foaling to 78.6% for A and 88.3% for B. Risk for both FE and SB is more significant in mares aged 3 years than at 4 or 5 to 9 years.
  • Different values of heritability and genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects indicate variation between breeds. This is significant when considering selective breeding and foaling management to decrease rates of stillbirth and improve foaling ease.

Conclusion

  • The study effectively provides insights into genetic and environmental factors affecting FE and SBs for draft horses. The findings are significant as they inform both best breeding practices as well as foaling management to minimize the risks and difficulties associated with birthing in these breeds.

Cite This Article

APA
Sabbagh M, Danvy S, Ricard A. (2014). Genetic and environmental analysis of dystocia and stillbirths in draft horses. Animal, 8(2), 184-191. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731113002061

Publication

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
ISSN: 1751-732X
NlmUniqueID: 101303270
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Pages: 184-191

Researcher Affiliations

Sabbagh, M
  • 1 Recherche et Innovation, IFCE, 61310 Exmes, France.
Danvy, S
  • 1 Recherche et Innovation, IFCE, 61310 Exmes, France.
Ricard, A
  • 1 Recherche et Innovation, IFCE, 61310 Exmes, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Dystocia / genetics
  • Dystocia / veterinary
  • Female
  • France
  • Horse Diseases / genetics
  • Horses
  • Markov Chains
  • Models, Biological
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Parturition / genetics
  • Parturition / physiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Sex Factors
  • Species Specificity
  • Stillbirth / genetics
  • Stillbirth / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Lanci A, Perina F, Donadoni A, Castagnetti C, Mariella J. Dystocia in the Standardbred Mare: A Retrospective Study from 2004 to 2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;12(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12121486pubmed: 35739823google scholar: lookup
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