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Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience2010; 4(5); 682-691; doi: 10.1017/S1751731110000017

Genetic variation in competition traits at different ages and time periods and correlations with traits at field tests of 4-year-old Swedish Warmblood horses.

Abstract: For many years, the breeding value estimation for Swedish riding horses has been based on results from Riding Horse Quality Tests (RHQTs) of 4-year-olds only. Traits tested are conformation, gaits and jumping ability. An integrated index including competition results is under development to both get as reliable proofs as possible and increases the credibility of the indexes among breeders, trainers and riders. The objectives of this study were to investigate the suitability of competition data for use in genetic evaluations of horses and to examine how well young horse performance agrees with performance later in life. Competition results in dressage and show jumping for almost 40 000 horses from the beginning of the 1960s until 2006 were available. For RHQT data of 14 000 horses judged between 1988 and 2007 were used. Genetic parameters were estimated for accumulated competition results defined for different age groups (4 to 6 years of age, 4 to 9 years of age and lifetime), and for different birth year groups. Genetic correlations were estimated between results at RHQT and competitions with a multi-trait animal model. Heritabilities were higher for show jumping than dressage and increased with increasing age of the horse and amount of information. For dressage, heritabilities increased from 0.11 for the youngest group to 0.16 for lifetime results. For show jumping corresponding values increased from 0.24 to 0.28. Genetic correlations between competition results for the different age groups were highly positive (0.84 to 1.00), as were those between jumping traits at RHQT and competition results in show jumping (0.87 to 0.89). For dressage-related traits as 4-year-old and dressage competition results the estimated genetic correlations were between 0.47 and 0.77. We suggest that lifetime results from competitions should be integrated into the genetic evaluation system. However, genetic parameters showed that traits had changed during the over 35-year period covered due to the development of the sport, which needs to be considered in future genetic evaluations.
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Publication Date: 2010-05-01 PubMed ID: 22444120DOI: 10.1017/S1751731110000017Google 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 study investigates the suitability of utilizing competitive performance data in genetic evaluations of horses, focusing on the Swedish Warmblood breed. The study also explores the correlation between a horse’s performance at a young age and its performance later in life.

Methodology

  • The researchers compiled competition results from dressage and show jumping competitions for nearly 40,000 horses from the early 1960s up until 2006.
  • In addition, Riding Horse Quality Test (RHQT) data was gathered for about 14,000 horses evaluated between 1988 and 2007.
  • By using a multi-trait animal model, they estimated genetic parameters for the accumulated competition results. These results were divided based on different age groups and birth year groups.
  • The age groups were categorized as: 4 to 6 years, 4 to 9 years, and lifetime performance. Genetic correlations were established between the results in RHQT and competitions.

Findings

  • Heritability was found to be higher for show jumping compared to dressage and the heritability increased with the age of the horse and the amount of information gathered.
  • Heritability for dressage increased from 0.11 for the youngest group to 0.16 for lifetime results. For show jumping, the corresponding values went from 0.24 to 0.28.
  • Genetic correlations between competition results for the different age groups were highly positive, varying from 0.84 to 1.00.
  • As for the correlation between jumping traits at RHQT and competition results in show jumping, there was a correlation of 0.87 to 0.89.
  • For dressage-related traits of 4-year-olds and their subsequent results in dressage competitions, the estimated genetic correlations ranged from 0.47 to 0.77.

Conclusion

  • From their findings, the researchers suggest the need to integrate lifetime results from competitions into the genetic evaluation system of horses for a more valid and robust estimation of breeding value.
  • However, the research also recognizes that the traits of horses have changed over the analyzed 35-year period, due to the development and evolution of equestrian sports. This factor should be considered in future genetic evaluations.

Cite This Article

APA
Viklund A, Braam A, Näsholm A, Strandberg E, Philipsson J. (2010). Genetic variation in competition traits at different ages and time periods and correlations with traits at field tests of 4-year-old Swedish Warmblood horses. Animal, 4(5), 682-691. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731110000017

Publication

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
ISSN: 1751-732X
NlmUniqueID: 101303270
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 5
Pages: 682-691

Researcher Affiliations

Viklund, A
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Braam, A
    Näsholm, A
      Strandberg, E
        Philipsson, J

          Citations

          This article has been cited 13 times.
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