Genetic parameters and breeding values for semen characteristics in Hanoverian stallions.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to show whether semen traits of 30 Hanoverian stallions regularly used in AI may be useful for breeding purposes. Semen characteristics were studied using 15 149 ejaculates from 30 Hanoverian stallions of the State Stud Celle of Lower Saxony. Semen samples were collected between 2005 and 2009. Traits analysed were gel-free volume, sperm concentration, total and motile sperm number and progressive motility. A linear multivariate animal model was employed to estimate heritabilities and permanent environmental variances for stallions. The same model was used to predict breeding values for all traits simultaneously. Heritabilities were high for gel-free volume (h(2) = 0.43) and moderate for total number of sperm (h(2) = 0.29) and progressive motility (h(2) = 0.20). Gel-free volume, sperm concentration and total number of sperm were genetically negatively correlated with progressive motility. The effect of the permanent environment for stallions accounted for 9-55% of the trait variance. The total variance among stallions explained 37-69% of the trait variance. The average reliabilities of the breeding values were 0.43-0.76 for the 30 Hanoverian stallions. In conclusion, the study could demonstrate large effects of stallions, routinely employed in a breeding programme, on semen characteristics analysed here. We could demonstrate that estimated breeding values (EBV) with sufficient high reliabilities can be predicted using data from these stallions and these EBV are useful in horse breeding programmes to achieve genetic improvement in semen quality.
© 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2014-05-30 PubMed ID: 24891229DOI: 10.1111/rda.12326Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study aims to establish if the semen traits of 30 Hanoverian stallions, commonly used for artificial insemination, could be beneficial for breeding purposes. The study found that semen characteristics do indeed have a substantial impact and could be used to make informed breeding decisions to improve semen quality.
Study Description and Methods
- This research was carried out by observing 30 Hanoverian stallions that are frequently used for artificial insemination.
- The data studied comprised 15,149 ejaculates obtained from these stallions between the years 2005 and 2009, collected at the State Stud Celle of Lower Saxony.
- The semen characteristics examined included gel-free volume, sperm concentration, total and motile sperm count, and progressive motility.
- A linear multivariate animal model was used for estimating heritabilities and permanent environmental variances, as well as predicting breeding values for all traits simultaneously.
Results and Findings
- High heritabilities were observed for gel-free volume (0.43), whereas moderate heritabilities were found for total sperm (0.29) and progressive motility (0.20).
- A negative genetic correlation was found between gel-free volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm number with progressive motility.
- The effect of the stallions’ permanent environment accounted for between 9% and 55% of the variance in traits.
- The total variance among stallions explained 37-69% of the trait variance.
- The average reliabilities of the breeding values were between 0.43 and 0.76 for the 30 Hanoverian stallions under study.
Conclusion
- The study was able to show significant effects of the stallions used commonly in breeding programmes on the analysed semen characteristics.
- It demonstrated that estimated breeding values with sufficient reliability can be predicted using data from these stallions, and these can be used in horse breeding programmes to achieve genetic improvement in semen quality.
Cite This Article
APA
Labitzke D, Sieme H, Martinsson G, Distl O.
(2014).
Genetic parameters and breeding values for semen characteristics in Hanoverian stallions.
Reprod Domest Anim, 49(4), 584-587.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12326 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Hannover, Germany.
- Unit for Reproduction Medicine, Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
- State Stud Celle of Lower Saxony, Celle, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding / methods
- Genetic Variation
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Male
- Semen
- Semen Analysis / methods
- Semen Analysis / veterinary
- Sperm Count / veterinary
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / physiology
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