Genetic parameters of biokinematic variables of the trot in Spanish Purebred horses under experimental treadmill conditions.

The research examines the genetic aspects influencing the trotting movement in Spanish Purebred horses. It employs kinematic analysis to figure out how these genetic factors can contribute to select superior horses for breeding programs.

Objective of the Study

• The study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters affecting biokinematic variables of trotting in Spanish Purebred horses.
• The researchers want to figure out which variables are significant enough to be used as a basis for selecting horses for breeding programs.

Methodology

• The study sample was 130 Spanish Purebred horses of approximately 4.6 years old.
• The trotting movement of these horses was recorded on a treadmill with a pace of 4 meters per second.
• The data was then analyzed using various models and statistical tools. The VCE software and a bivariate mixed animal model were used.
• This model included age and stud as fixed effects. The animal additive genetic effect and the residual errors were incorporated as random effects.

Findings

• The study discovered that the heritability of these variables was generally high, ranging between 0.33 and 0.88.
• The highest scores were obtained for parameters such as the maximum height of the fore-hoof and the duration of the swing phase in the hindlimb.
• The lowest heritabilities were found in the angular variables.
• The genetic correlations between these variables were also high. This suggests that one could reduce the number of characteristics needed to evaluate in a breeding program.

Conclusion

• Based on the findings, the researchers proposed a set of variables that could be prioritized in horse breeding programs. These include stride duration, hindlimb swing phase duration, range of stifle and elbow angles, minimal retraction-protraction angle of the hindlimb, and minimal angle of carpus.
• The research concludes that these will be viable genetic factors for identifying superior trotting characteristics in Spanish Purebred horses for breeding purposes.