Genetic correlations between dressage, show jumping and studbook-entry inspection traits in a process of specialization in Dutch Warmblood horses.
Abstract: Sport performance in dressage and show jumping are two important traits in the breeding goals of many studbooks. To determine the optimum selection scheme for jumping and dressage, knowledge is needed on the genetic correlation between both disciplines and between traits measured early in life and performance in competition in each discipline. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters to support decision-making on specialization of breeding horses for dressage and show jumping in Dutch warmblood horses. Genetic correlations between performance of horses in dressage and show jumping were estimated as well as the genetic correlation between traits recorded during studbook-entry inspections and performance in dressage and show jumping competitions. The information on competition comprised the performance of 82 694 horses in dressage and 62 072 horses in show jumping, recorded in the period 1993-2012. For 26 056 horses, information was available for both disciplines. The information on traits recorded at studbook-entry inspections comprised 62 628 horses, recorded in the period 1992-2013. Genetic parameters were estimated from the whole dataset and from a subset without horses recorded in both disciplines. Additionally, the genetic parameters were estimated in three different time periods defined by horses' birth year. The genetic correlation between dressage and show jumping in the whole dataset was -0.23, and it was -0.03 when it was estimated from horses recorded in only one discipline. The genetic correlation between dressage and show jumping was more negative in the most recent time period in all the cases. The more negative correlation between disciplines in more recent time periods was not reflected in changes in the correlations between competitions traits and the traits recorded in the studbook-first inspection. These results suggest that a breeding programme under specialization might be most effective defining two separate aggregate breeding goals for each of the disciplines.
© 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2016-09-27 PubMed ID: 27678258DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12241Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article examines how genetic traits contribute to specialization in dressage and show jumping among Dutch Warmblood horses. The authors discuss the genetic correlations between these disciplines and the traits observed during studbook-entry inspections, providing insights that could inform the optimum breeding scheme selection for horses in these disciplines.
Objective of the Study
- The primary aim of this study was to gauge the genetic parameters that assist decision-making about whether breeding Dutch Warmblood horses should specialize in dressage or show jumping. The research sought to comprehend the genetic correlation between these two sports disciplines and observed traits during studbook-entry inspections.
Methodology
- The researchers analyzed performance records of 82,694 horses in dressage and 62,072 in show jumping between the years 1993 and 2012. For 26,056 of these horses, data was available in both disciplines.
- In addition, data was evaluated from traits recorded in studbook-entry inspections, covering 62,628 horses from 1992 to 2013.
- Genetic parameters were assessed from the full dataset and a subset excluding horses recorded in both disciplines. Further, these parameters were evaluated across three distinct time periods based on the horses’ birth year.
Results
- The genetic correlation between dressage and show jumping was found to be -0.23 in the entire data set, and -0.03 when only horses recorded in a single discipline were considered.
- This correlation was observed to be more negative in the most recent time periods. Interestingly, this trend was not mirrored in the correlations between competition traits and those recorded in studbook-entry inspections.
Conclusion
- From their analysis, the researchers surmise that a specialized breeding programme defining separate aggregate breeding goals for each discipline (dressage and show jumping) might be the most effective approach based on the genetic correlations observed.
Cite This Article
APA
Rovere G, Ducro BJ, van Arendonk JA, Norberg E, Madsen P.
(2016).
Genetic correlations between dressage, show jumping and studbook-entry inspection traits in a process of specialization in Dutch Warmblood horses.
J Anim Breed Genet, 134(2), 162-171.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12241 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Breeding and Genomic Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
- Animal Breeding and Genomic Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Animal Breeding and Genomic Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Competitive Behavior
- Female
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Walz KR, McCormick ME, Fedorka CE. The Thoroughbred Theory: Influence of Breed on Performance at the CCI5*-L Level of Eventing. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 18;15(12).
- Ricard A, Crevier-Denoix N, Pourcelot P, Crichan H, Sabbagh M, Dumont-Saint-Priest B, Danvy S. Genetic analysis of geometric morphometric 3D visuals of French jumping horses. Genet Sel Evol 2023 Sep 18;55(1):63.
- Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Ripollés-Lobo M, Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Valera M. The Relevance of the Expected Value of the Proportion of Arabian Genes in Genetic Evaluations for Eventing Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 13;13(12).
- Bonow S, Eriksson S, Thorén Hellsten E, Gelinder Viklund Å. Consequences of specialized breeding in the Swedish Warmblood horse population. J Anim Breed Genet 2023 Jan;140(1):79-91.
- Dugué M, Dumont Saint Priest B, Crichan H, Danvy S, Ricard A. Genomic Correlations Between the Gaits of Young Horses Measured by Accelerometry and Functional Longevity in Jumping Competition. Front Genet 2021;12:619947.
- Ricard A, Dumont Saint Priest B, Chassier M, Sabbagh M, Danvy S. Genetic consistency between gait analysis by accelerometry and evaluation scores at breeding shows for the selection of jumping competition horses. PLoS One 2020;15(12):e0244064.
- Ricard A, Dumont Saint Priest B, Danvy S, Barrey E. Accelerometers Provide Early Genetic Selection Criteria for Jumping Horses. Front Genet 2020;11:448.
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