Archives animal breeding2024; 67(4); 561-570; doi: 10.5194/aab-67-561-2024

Genetic trends in body measurements at birth for Arabian horse in Türkiye.

Hacan, Ö
·
Tekerli, M
·
Çinkaya, S
·
Demirtaş, M

Abstract: Changes in genetic variation in body measurements are a subject of interest. This study aimed to understand the changes in the genetic effects of body measurement at birth in Turkish Arabian foals over the years. Furthermore, estimating the sources of variation in body measurements at birth in Turkish Arabian foals, considering additive genetic, maternal genetic, and maternal permanent effects and the covariance between offspring and dams in animal models, was the objective of this study. The records for birth weight (BW), wither height (WH), chest circumference (CC), and cannon-bone circumference (CBC) of 2624 Arabian foals born between 1987 and 2007 in the Anadolu, Karacabey, and Sultansuyu agricultural enterprises were used in the analyses. Variance analysis for non-genetic effects showed that the effects of the farm, year of birth, sex, and dam age were significant ( ) for all traits. Estimation of variance components and genetic parameters for body measurements was performed with the average information restricted maximum likelihood algorithm using six univariate animal models in the WOMBAT software. The best-fit model for each trait was identified based on Akaike's information criterion (AIC). Genetic trends were determined by performing linear regression analysis on the estimated breeding value (EBV) of the animals based on their year of birth. Additive direct heritabilities for BW, WH, CC, and CBC were 0.10 0.04, 0.41 0.07, 0.06 0.03, and 0.30 0.07, respectively. The estimates of maternal heritability for the corresponding traits were 0.24 0.03, 0.05 0.03, 0.09 0.03, and 0.13 0.03, respectively. Additive-maternal genetic correlations for BW, WH, CC, and CBC were 0.33, 0.13, 0.19, and 0.22, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were analyzed with multivariate animal models considering additive genetic, maternal genetic, and maternal permanent effects and ranged from 0.340 to 0.924. The low to moderate direct and maternal heritabilities with additive-maternal genetic correlations showed that the variation in morphometric traits in foals could be affected by these factors and needs to be considered. Genetic trends showed increased weight and chest circumference in foals at birth. Based on these findings, breeders may consider these traits when selecting horses in future breeding programs.

Get Full Text

Publication Date: 2024-11-28 PubMed ID: 42212340PubMed Central: PMC13215386DOI: 10.5194/aab-67-561-2024Google Scholar: Lookup

The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.

Facebook X LinkedIn Email Copy

Summary
Cite This
Publication
Affiliations
Conflict of Interest
References
Citations

Journal Article

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.

Genetic trends in body measurements at birth for Arabian horses in Türkiye were studied to estimate genetic parameters and understand changes in genetic effects over time, considering both direct and maternal genetic influences.

Study Objectives and Background

Investigate changes in genetic variation and genetic effects on body measurements at birth in Turkish Arabian foals.
Estimate sources of variation including additive genetic, maternal genetic, and maternal permanent effects and their covariances.
Focus measurements: birth weight (BW), wither height (WH), chest circumference (CC), and cannon-bone circumference (CBC).

Data and Methods

Data consisted of 2624 Arabian foals born from 1987 to 2007 at Anadolu, Karacabey, and Sultansuyu agricultural enterprises in Türkiye.
Non-genetic effects analyzed: farm, year of birth, sex, and dam age; all showed significant impact on body measurements.
Variance components and genetic parameters estimated using six univariate animal models with the average information restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) algorithm in WOMBAT software.
Model selection was based on Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) for best fit per trait.
Genetic trends evaluated by linear regression on estimated breeding values (EBVs) according to foals’ birth years.

Key Genetic Parameter Estimates

Additive direct heritability (h²): the proportion of variation due to additive genetic effects of the foal’s own genes.
- Birth weight: 0.10 ± 0.04 (low)
- Wither height: 0.41 ± 0.07 (moderate-high)
- Chest circumference: 0.06 ± 0.03 (low)
- Cannon-bone circumference: 0.30 ± 0.07 (moderate)
Maternal heritability: genetic influence of the dam on the foal’s traits.
- Birth weight: 0.24 ± 0.03 (moderate)
- Wither height: 0.05 ± 0.03 (low)
- Chest circumference: 0.09 ± 0.03 (low)
- Cannon-bone circumference: 0.13 ± 0.03 (low to moderate)
Additive-maternal genetic correlations: interaction between foal’s direct genetic effects and dam’s maternal genetic effects.
- Birth weight: +0.33 (positive moderate correlation)
- Wither height: -0.13 (slight negative correlation)
- Chest circumference: -0.19 (slight negative correlation)
- Cannon-bone circumference: -0.22 (slight negative correlation)

Correlations Among Traits

Genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated via multivariate animal models incorporating additive genetic, maternal genetic, and maternal permanent environmental effects.
Correlations ranged from 0.340 to 0.924 indicating moderate to strong relationships among body measurement traits.

Findings and Implications

Low to moderate heritabilities suggest morphometric traits at birth are influenced by both genetic and maternal factors.
Additive-maternal genetic correlations indicate important interplay that can affect trait selection and development.
Genetic trends illustrated an increase in birth weight and chest circumference over the studied years, indicating positive genetic progress in these traits.
Breeders should consider these genetic parameters and trends when selecting horses to improve body size and related traits in future breeding programs.
Incorporating maternal genetic effects enhances understanding and prediction of foal growth traits, leading to more effective breeding strategies.

Cite This Article

APA

Hacan Ö, Tekerli M, Çinkaya S, Demirtaş M. (2024). Genetic trends in body measurements at birth for Arabian horse in Türkiye. Arch Anim Breed, 67(4), 561-570. https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-67-561-2024

Publication

Archives animal breeding

ISSN: 2363-9822

NlmUniqueID: 101701238

Country: Germany

Language: English

Volume: 67

Issue: 4

Pages: 561-570

Researcher Affiliations

Hacan, Özlem

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye.

Tekerli, Mustafa

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye.

Çinkaya, Samet

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye.

Demirtaş, Mustafa

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The contact author has declared that none of the authors has any competing interests.

References

This article includes 48 references

Akaike H. Information theory and an extension of maximum likelihood principle. Proc 2nd int symp on information theory; Budapest, Hungary. Akademiai Kiado; 1973.
Akçapınar H, Atasoy F, Gücüyener Ö. Atlarda Eksteriör ve Önemi. Ulusal Atçılık Sempozyumu Özet Kitabı; 18–20 September 2005; Ankara, Türkiye. 2005. pp. 34–36.
Aksoy Y, Ulutaş Z, Şen U, Şirin E, Şahin A. Estimates of genetic parameters for different body weights andmuscle and fat depths of Karayaka lambs. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 2016;40:13–20.
doi: 10.3906/vet-1504-16google scholar: lookup
Altınel A, Küçük H. Karacabey Tarım İşletmesinde Yetiştirilen Arap, Haflinger ve Arap x Haflinger F1 Melezi Atların BazıVerim Özellikleri Üzerinde Araştırmalar. II. Büyüme ve CanlıAğırlık. Lalahan Hayvancılık Araştırma Enstitüsü Dergisi 1992;32:83–97.
Antalyalı A. Türk Safkan Arap Atlarında BazıVücut Özelliklerinin Fenotipik ve Genotipik Parametreleri. Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Doktora Tezi; Ankara: 2008.
Arpacık R. At Yetiştiriciliği. Şahin Matbaası. 1999.
Baban M, Curik I, Antunovic B, Cacic M, Korabi N, Mijic P. Phenotypic Correlations of Stride Traits and Body Measurements in Lipizzaner Stallions and Mares. J Equine Vet Sci 2009;29:513–518.
doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2009.04.193google scholar: lookup
Bakhtiari J, Heshmat G. Estimation of Genetic Parameters of Conformation Traits in Iranian Thoroughbred Horses. Livest Sci 2009;123:116–120.
doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.10.014google scholar: lookup
Barzev G, Tanchev S, Karadjov T. Study on Phenotypic Correlations Among Some Exterior Features of Growth Dynamics in Hanoverian Horses. Bulg J Vet Med 2003;6:209–214.
Batu S. Damızlık Seçimi ve Eksterieur Bilgisi. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Yayınları. 1951;10.
Çilek S. Heritability Parameters for Some Body Measurements in Turkish Arabian Foals. Iran J Vet Res 2012;13:323–329.
doi: 10.22099/IJVR.2012.613google scholar: lookup
Dall'Anese J, da Silva Junior JDA, Abrahão CLH, de Castro LLD, de Oliveira Brandão Y, Yoshitani ÚY, Knopp V, Molento MB. The use of body growth and kinship data from 16 generations for predicting Thoroughbred performance. Arch Vet Sci 2023;28:1.
doi: 10.5380/avs.v1i1google scholar: lookup
Dario C, Carnicella D, Dario M, Bufano G. Morphological Evolution and Heritability Estimates for Some Biometric Traits in the Murgese Horse Breed. Genet Mol Res 2006;5:309–314.
pubmed: 16819710
de Almeida Prado RS, da Mota MDS. Genetic Parameters for Biometric Traits in Mangalarga Horses. Rev electrón Vet 2008;12:1–15.
de Castro LLD, Abrahão CL, Antunes J, Pritsch I, Molento MB. Body development from birth to 18 months of age of Thoroughbred foals in Brazil. Int J Plant Anim Environ Sci 2021;11:352–362.
Doğan İ, Akcan A, Koç M. Investigation of Important Body Measurements in Pure-Bred Arabian Colts and Fillies.. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 2002;26:55–60.
Dodenhoff J, Van Vleck LD, Kachman SD, Koch RM. Parameter estimates for direct, maternal, and grandmaternal genetic effects for birth weight and weaning weight in Hereford cattle.. J Anim Sci 1998;76:2521–2527.
doi: 10.2527/1998.76102521xpubmed: 9814889google scholar: lookup
Druml T, Baumung R, Solkner J. Morphological Analysis and Effect of Selection for Conformation in the Noriker Draught Horse Population.. Livest Sci 2008;115:118–128.
doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.06.015google scholar: lookup
Duru S, Baycan SC, Özhelvacı N, Gündoğan B, Akgün H. Türk Arap Atında BazıBeden Ölçüleri İçin Varyans Unsurlarıve Genetik Parametre Tahminleri.. Yüzüncü Yıl Univ Tar Bilim Derg 2017;27:378–386.
Falcao R, McManus C, Spritze A, Chagas I, Vellosa C, Costa D. Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters for Linear Body Measurements of The Campeiro Horse, Brazil. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Genetic Applied to Livestock Production; 19–23 August 2002; Montpellier, France. 2002.
Filho HCM, Hunka MM, Wanderley EK, Melo SKM, Beltrao MR, Abreu JMG, Manso HECC. Pattern of Development in Foals from Four Different Breeds Between Birth and Weaning.. Open J Vet Med 2014;4:72–77.
doi: 10.4236/ojvm.2014.45009google scholar: lookup
Gharahveysi S, Kahsan EJN, Gerami A, Torshizi VR. Estimation of Genetic Parameters on Conformation Traits of the Iranian Arab Horse Population.. Pak J Biol Sci 2008;11:280–284.
doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.280.284pubmed: 18817204google scholar: lookup
Giontella A, Sarti FM, Biggio GP, Giovannini S, Cherchi R, Pieramati C, Silvestrelli M. Genetic parameters and inbreeding effect of morphological traits in Sardinian Anglo Arab horse.. Animals 2020;10:791.
doi: 10.3390/ani10050791pmc: PMC7277675pubmed: 32370302google scholar: lookup
Gücüyener Hacan Ö, Akçapınar H. FarklıHaralarda Yetiştirilen Safkan Türk Arap Atlarında BazıFenotipik ve Genetik Parametreler I. Vücut Ölçüleri ve Kalıtım Dereceleri.. Lalahan Hayv Araş Enst Derg 2011;51:55–70.
Huricha, Kawai M, Inose Y, Yamada F, Ninomiya S. Maternal effect on first-year growth of Hokkaido native foals kept outdoors all year round.. Anim Sci J 2022;93:e13694.
doi: 10.1111/asj.13694pubmed: 35146838google scholar: lookup
Illa SK, Gollamoori G, Nath S. Evaluation of models for estimation of genetic parameters for post-weaning body measurements and their association with yearling weight in Nellore sheep.. Anim Biosci 2024;37:419.
doi: 10.5713/ab.20.0426pmc: PMC10915193pubmed: 38444085google scholar: lookup
Kaps M, Curik I, Baban M. Modeling Variance Structure of Body Shape Traits of Lipizzan Horses.. J Anim Sci 2011;88:2868–2882.
doi: 10.2527/jas.2009-2453pubmed: 20495128google scholar: lookup
Kaygısız A, Orhan H, Vanlı Y, Güler A, Gökdere MA. Phenotypic and Genetic Parameter Estimations of Body Measurements of Turkish Arabian Horses Raised in Sultansuyu State Farm.. Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 2011;1:69–74.
Koç M, Altınel A. Anadolu Tarım İşletmesi'nde Yetiştirilen Arap Atlarının BazıÖzellikleri Üzerinde Araştırmalar.. İstanbul Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 1992;18:90–101.
Koçak S, Çinkaya S, Tekerli M, Demirtaş M, Bozkurt Z, Çelikeloğlu K, Hacan Ö, Erdoğan M. Estimation of (Co)Variance Components and Genetic Parameters for Pre- and Post-Weaning Growth Traits in Dağlıç Sheep.. Animals 2024;14:108.
doi: 10.3390/ani14010108pmc: PMC10777935pubmed: 38200839google scholar: lookup
Maniatis N, Pollott GE. The impact of data structure on genetic (co)variance components of early growth in sheep, estimated using an animal model with maternal effects.. J Anim Sci 2003;81:101–108.
doi: 10.2527/2003.811101xpubmed: 12597378google scholar: lookup
Mehta SC, Talluri TR, Legha R, Pal Y, Tripathi BN. Phenotypic trend, breeding value, and heritability of biometric traits in Marwari horses.. Indian J Anim Sci 2021;91:476–480.
doi: 10.56093/ijans.v91i6.115450google scholar: lookup
Meyer K. Bias and sampling covariances of estimates of variance components due to maternal effects.. Genet Sel Evol 1992;24:487–509.
doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-24-6-487google scholar: lookup
Meyer K. WOMBAT – A tool for mixed model analyses in quantitative genetics by restricted maximum likelihood (REML). J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2007;8:815–821.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.2007.B0815pmc: PMC2064953pubmed: 17973343google scholar: lookup
Molina A, Valera R, Dos Santos R, Rodero A. Genetic Parameters of Morphofunctional Traits in Andalusian Horse.. Livest Pro Sci 1999;60:295–303.
doi: 10.1016/S0301-6226(99)00101-3google scholar: lookup
Müller V, Moraes BDSS, Carvalho IR, Wendt CG, Patten RD, Nogueira CEW. Genetic parameters of morphometric measurements in Criollo horses.. J Anim Breed Genet 2021;138:174–178.
doi: 10.1111/jbg.12503pubmed: 33009860google scholar: lookup
Poyato-Bonilla J, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Cervantes I, Gutiérrez JP, Valera M. Genetic parameters for canalization analysis of morphological traits in the Pura Raza Español horse.. J Anim Breed Genet 2021;138:482–490.
doi: 10.1111/jbg.12537pubmed: 33527529google scholar: lookup
Pretorius SM, Van Marle-Köster E, Mostert BE. Description of the Friesian Horse Population of South Africa and Namibia.. S Afr J Anim Sci 2004;34:149–157.
doi: 10.4314/sajas.v34i3.3958google scholar: lookup
Sadek MH. Estimation of Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters of Body Measurements and Conformation in Arabian Horses.. Egypt J Anim Prod 2006;43:153–162.
doi: 10.21608/EJAP.2006.93105google scholar: lookup
Sadek MH, Al-Aboud AZ, Ashmawy AA. Factor Analysis of Body Measurements in Arabian Horses.. J Anim Breed Genet 2006;123:369–377.
doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00618.xpubmed: 17177691google scholar: lookup
Seidlitz G, Willeke H, Wemken IVB. Body weight and type traits of purebred Arab breeding mares.. Arch Tierzucht 1991;34:233–240.
Schroderus E, Ojala M. Estimates of genetic parameters for conformation measures and scores in Finnhorse and Standardbred foals.. J Anim Breed Genet 2010;127:395–403.
doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2010.00856.xpubmed: 20831564google scholar: lookup
Southwood OI, Kennedy BW. Estimation of direct and maternal genetic variance for litter size in Canadian Yorkshire and Landrace swine using an animal model.. J Anim Sci 1990;68:1841–1847.
doi: 10.2527/1990.6871841xpubmed: 2384377google scholar: lookup
Tamioso PR, Cosmo TR, Pimentel CMM, Dias LT, Teixeira RDA. Heritability estimates for body weight and height at withers in Brazilian army horses.. Cienc Rural 2012;42:2246–2251.
doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782012005000093google scholar: lookup
Torzyński G, Wolc A, Szwaczkowski T. Maternal effects on the conformation traits in half-bred horses.. J Anim Feed Sci 2005;14:595–605.
doi: 10.22358/jafs/67135/2005google scholar: lookup
Viklund A, Thoren HE, Nasholm A, Strandberg E, Philipsson J. Genetic Parameters for Traits Evaluated at Field Tests of 3 and 4 Year Old Swedish Warmblood Horses. Animal 2008;2:1832–1841.
doi: 10.1017/S1751731108003030pubmed: 22444090google scholar: lookup
Willham RL. The role of maternal effects in animal breeding: III. Biometrical aspects of maternal effects in animals. J Anim Sci 1972;35:1288–1293.
doi: 10.2527/jas1972.3561288xpubmed: 4567216google scholar: lookup
Yıldırım F. The Differences in Arabian Horse Body Measurements Used in Different Horse Sports (Racing and Jereed). AgroLife Sci J 2023;12:248–252.
doi: 10.17930/AGL2023231google scholar: lookup