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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(21); 2957; doi: 10.3390/ani12212957

Genetic Parameters of Performance and Conformation Traits of 3-Year-Old Warmblood Sport Horses in the Czech Republic.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters of a one-day performance test together with the linear type traits of 3-year-old warmblood horses. The study of genetic parameters was based on 5958 tested horses in the period 1998-2021. A total of 22 traits of linear description, three quantitatively measured traits, and one summary mark from the performance test were tested. The model equation included the fixed effect of gender and combination effects of classifier-year of evaluation-place. A single-trait animal model was used for the estimation of heritability and genetic variance, while the two-trait animal model was applied for the estimation of variance and covariance between all traits. The heritability of the overall score of the performance test was 0.25. The range for heritability was between 0.04 and 0.33 for the linear type traits and between 0.46 and 0.57 for the quantitatively measured traits. Genetic correlations were between -0.47 and 0.92. The estimated genetic parameters suggest that the results from the performance test can be incorporated into genetic evaluation in the Czech Republic.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-27 PubMed ID: 36359080PubMed Central: PMC9654176DOI: 10.3390/ani12212957Google 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 is an attempt to estimate the genetic parameters affecting the performance and physical traits of 3-year-old warmblood horses in the Czech Republic. It suggests that the results from performance tests can be useful in genetic evaluation within the country.

Objective of the Study

  • The main objective of the study was to understand the influence of genetic parameters on the performance and conformation traits of 3-year-old warmblood horses.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted on 5958 horses that underwent testing between 1998 to 2021.
  • 22 traits of linear description, three quantitatively measured traits, and one summary performance test mark were analyzed.
  • The equation model used accounted for the fixed effect of gender and the combination effects of classifier-year of evaluation-place.
  • Two animal models were used for various estimations. The single-trait animal model was used to estimate heritability and genetic variance, and the two-trait model was applied for the estimation of variance and covariance between all the traits.

Results

  • The overall performance test’s heritability, which essentially represents how much of this performance can be attributed to genetic factors rather than environmental influences, was found to be 0.25.
  • The range for heritability for the linear type traits was between 0.04 and 0.33, whereas it was between 0.46 and 0.57 for the quantitatively measured traits.
  • Genetic correlations observed ranged from -0.47 to 0.92, indicating a variety of strong positive and negative associations between different genetic factors.

Conclusion

  • The research’s findings suggest that the results from the horse performance tests can be effectively incorporated in genetic evaluations in the Czech Republic.

Cite This Article

APA
Novotna A, Birovas A, Vostra-Vydrova H, Vesela Z, Vostry L. (2022). Genetic Parameters of Performance and Conformation Traits of 3-Year-Old Warmblood Sport Horses in the Czech Republic. Animals (Basel), 12(21), 2957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12212957

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 21
PII: 2957

Researcher Affiliations

Novotna, Alexandra
  • Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, 10401 Praque, Czech Republic.
Birovas, Alena
  • Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, 10401 Praque, Czech Republic.
Vostra-Vydrova, Hana
  • Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, 10401 Praque, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 16521 Praque, Czech Republic.
Vesela, Zdenka
  • Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, 10401 Praque, Czech Republic.
Vostry, Lubos
  • Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, 10401 Praque, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Genetics and Breeding, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 16521 Praque, Czech Republic.

Grant Funding

  • MZE-RO0719 / Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Lewczuk D, Borowska A, Andruszkiewicz J, Bagnicka E. Comparative Analysis of the Stallion Field Performance Test at Different Training Stages and Horse Age. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 13;15(22).
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  2. 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).
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  3. Ripollés-Lobo M, Perdomo-González DI, Valera M, Gómez MD. Conformational Defects in the Limbs of Menorca Purebred Horses and Their Relationship to Functionality. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 31;14(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14071071pubmed: 38612310google scholar: lookup
  4. Ripollés-Lobo M, Perdomo-González DI, Azor PJ, Valera M. Orthopedic Diseases in the Pura Raza Española Horse: The Prevalence and Genetic Parameters of Angular Hoof Deviations. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 10;13(22).
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  5. Borowska A, Lewczuk D. Comparison of Conformation and Movement Characteristics in Dressage and Jumping Sport Warmblood Mares Based on Point Evaluation and Linear Scoring System. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 4;13(19).
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