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Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie2021; 138(4); 482-490; doi: 10.1111/jbg.12537

Genetic parameters for canalization analysis of morphological traits in the Pura Raza Español horse.

Abstract: Measurements from 13 different morphological traits of importance in the Pura Raza Español (PRE) horse were used to estimate genetic and environmental parameters following a heteroscedastic model in which data were assigned to stallions. Data sets used ranged from 20,610 (height at withers) to 48,486 measurements (length of shoulder), and the number of animals analysed in the pedigrees varied from 17,662 (height at withers) to 23,962 (dorsal-sternal diameter). Results of heritabilities of the traits varied from 0.09 (width of chest and upper neck line) to 0.30 (muscular development). Further, genetic correlations between traits and their environmental variability were estimated, obtaining values from -0.56 (muscular development) to 0.69 (height at withers). Also, predicted breeding values for the mean and for the environmental variability were obtained for all horses in the pedigrees, providing individual information about not only the expected phenotypic value of their offspring but also the expected heterogeneity among them. Results proved the possibility of improving morphological traits and reducing the heterogeneity of offspring at a time by the selection of animals and levels of systematic effects.
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-02-01 PubMed ID: 33527529DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12537Google 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.

This research measures traits of importance in the Pura Raza Español horse to calculate genetic and environmental data. The results indicate the potential for enhancing these traits and reducing offspring variation through animal selection and control of systematic effects.

Objective and Methodology

The researchers aimed to analyze the genetic and environmental factors affecting the morphological traits of the Pura Raza Español (PRE) horse. Morphological traits refer to the visible physical attributes and structural properties of an organism. In the case of PRE horses, 13 such traits were studied, including height at withers (the highest part of the back), length of the shoulder, width of the chest, upper neck line, and muscular development.

  • The researchers applied a heteroscedastic model, a statistical method that allows for unequal variances or differences in variation across the sample, assigning the data sets to stallions.
  • The size of the data sets ranged from 20,610 to 48,486 measurements, while the number of horses analyzed in the pedigrees varied between 17,662 and 23,962.

Findings

Heritabilities, or the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors, for the traits ranged from 0.09 to 0.30.

  • The lowest heritability was observed in the width of the chest and the upper neck line, and the highest heritability was found in muscular development.
  • Additionally, genetic correlations between traits and their environmental variability were calculated. These ranged from -0.56 for muscular development to 0.69 for height at withers. This measure reflects how changes in one trait might be linked to variations in another as a result of genetic and environmental influences.

Implications

The study also offered predicted breeding values for each individual, indicating the expected physical characteristics (phenotypic value) of their offspring as well as the expected diversity (heterogeneity).

  • This information is crucial in breeding programs, helping breeders to choose the best animals for breeding to achieve desired traits and minimize unwanted variability in the offspring.
  • The findings suggest the possibility of simultaneous improvement in morphological traits and reduction in variability among offspring through the strategic selection of animals and adjustment of systematic effects.

Cite This Article

APA
Poyato-Bonilla J, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Cervantes I, Gutiérrez JP, Valera M. (2021). Genetic parameters for canalization analysis of morphological traits in the Pura Raza Español horse. J Anim Breed Genet, 138(4), 482-490. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12537

Publication

Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie
ISSN: 1439-0388
NlmUniqueID: 100955807
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 138
Issue: 4
Pages: 482-490

Researcher Affiliations

Poyato-Bonilla, Julia
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
Sánchez-Guerrero, María José
  • Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
Cervantes, Isabel
  • Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Gutiérrez, Juan Pablo
  • Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Valera, Mercedes
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / genetics
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Phenotype

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Karlau A, Azcona F, Molina A, Trigo P, Sánchez-Serrano JP, Demyda-Peyrás S. Exploring the Genetic Link Between Coat Colour and Morphological Traits: The Case of Peruano de Paso Horse. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 17;15(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15182720pubmed: 41007966google scholar: lookup
  2. Ziadi C, Demyda-Peyrás S, Valera M, Perdomo-González D, Laseca N, Rodríguez-Sainz de Los Terreros A, Encina A, Azor P, Molina A. Comparative Analysis of Genomic and Pedigree-Based Approaches for Genetic Evaluation of Morphological Traits in Pura Raza Española Horses. Genes (Basel) 2025 Jan 23;16(2).
    doi: 10.3390/genes16020131pubmed: 40004460google scholar: lookup
  3. Reich P, Möller S, Stock KF, Nolte W, von Depka Prondzinski M, Reents R, Kalm E, Kühn C, Thaller G, Falker-Gieske C, Tetens J. Genomic analyses of withers height and linear conformation traits in German Warmblood horses using imputed sequence-level genotypes. Genet Sel Evol 2024 Jun 13;56(1):45.
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