Genetic parameters of morphometric measurements in Criollo horses.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for the morphometric measurements of withers height (WH), thoracic circumference (TC) and cannon bone circumference (CBC) of Criollo horses, stratified for maternal and paternal effects. Statistical genetic design of factor crossings was used to evaluate the offspring of full siblings and half-siblings. Fifty stallions were selected (n = 50) who had been crossed with six mares each (n = 6), to provide 300 parental pairings in which two offspring were born per mare (n = 600). WH in females and TC in males were highly influenced by additive genetic effects, while the other morphometric measures were found to be closely related to the general effects of the environment. WH had the greatest additive genetic influence on female offspring (47.06%), while TC presented the greatest additive genetic influence on male offspring (58.73%). When comparing the parental influence on the morphometric characteristics evaluated, TC and CBC had greater additive genetic influence from maternal effects, regardless of offspring sex. However, the WH in female offspring showed greater maternal additive genetic contribution, while in males this characteristic presented greater paternal additive genetic influence. For WH in male offspring, narrow sense heritability ( h r 2 : 0.26) was more influenced by paternal effects, while for WH in females ( h r 2 : 0.47), TC in females ( h r 2 : 0.08) and males ( h r 2 : 0.59), and CBC in females ( h r 2 : 0.07) and males ( h r 2 : 0.05) the maternal effects were the most important. Therefore, the phenotypic expression of WH in males and females and TC in males is influenced by the additive genetic effect of the genes. On the other hand, the TC in female progenies and CBC in progenies of both sexes are closely related to the effects of the environment. The results obtained in this study could be useful in the selection process of Criollo horses.
© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Publication Date: 2020-10-03 PubMed ID: 33009860DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12503Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the genetic and environmental influences on various physical traits of Criollo horses, revealing that some traits, such as withers height in females and thoracic circumference in males, are significantly influenced by genetic factors, while others are more affected by environmental factors.
Study Methodology
- The study aimed to analyze the withers height (WH), thoracic circumference (TC), and cannon bone circumference (CBC) in Criollo horses, and took into consideration both maternal and paternal genetic effects.
- For the project, the researchers used a statistical genetic design of factor crossings to evaluate the offspring of both full siblings and half-siblings.
- Fifty stallions were selected, each of which had been bred with six mares, resulting in 300 parental pairings. Each mare gave birth to two offspring, giving a total of 600 specimens.
Study Findings
- The findings revealed that WH in female horses and TC in male horses were heavily influenced by additive (direct) genetic effects.
- On the other hand, other morphometric measurements were found to be more closely related to the general effects of the environment, with less influence from direct genetics.
- WH showed a significant additive genetic influence on female offspring (47.06%), while TC presented a major additive genetic influence on male offspring (58.73%).
- When comparing the parental influence on the evaluated morphometric characteristics, it became clear that TC and CBC had a greater additive genetic influence from maternal effects, regardless of the sex of the offspring.
- However, WH in female offspring demonstrated a greater maternal additive genetic contribution, while in males this characteristic was more influenced by the paternal genes.
Heritability Influence
- In terms of heritability, WH in male offspring was more influenced by paternal traits, producing a narrow-sense heritability (h2) of 0.26.
- In contrast, WH in females (h2: 0.47), TC in females (h2: 0.08) and males (h2: 0.59), and CBC in females (h2: 0.07) and males (h2: 0.05) demonstrated that maternal effects were the most significant.
- In summary, the phenotypic expression of WH in males and females, and TC in males, was influenced by direct genetic traits. Conversely, TC in female offspring and CBC in offspring of both sexes, were closely related to the effects of the environment.
Implications of the Study
- The results of this study could be important in the selection process of Criollo horses, allowing for better understanding of how both genetic and environmental factors play into development of physical traits in these animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Müller V, Moraes BDSS, Carvalho IR, Wendt CG, Patten RD, Nogueira CEW.
(2020).
Genetic parameters of morphometric measurements in Criollo horses.
J Anim Breed Genet, 138(2), 174-178.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12503 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
- Departamento de Estudos Agrários, Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horses
- Male
- Maternal Inheritance
- Phenotype
References
This article includes 10 references
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