Heritability of racing durability traits in the Australian and Hong Kong Thoroughbred racing populations.
Abstract: Many attempts have been made to improve the well-being of racing Thoroughbreds through improvements in management and veterinary care. However, these attempts are often limited by the industry's ability to regulate a large number of environmental variables and as a result have arguably had limited success in providing long-lasting change for the breed. Objective: To identify heritable durability traits for Thoroughbred horses racing in Australia and Hong Kong. Methods: Heritability analysis of a longitudinal dataset. Methods: Performance data on the Thoroughbred populations racing in Australia and Hong Kong between 2000 and 2011 (n = 168,993) were used to estimate the heritabilities and probability values of fixed effects and covariates for a range of racing durability traits. Heritabilities for all durability traits were estimated using a single trait animal model. Each model included, as a minimum, the effects of sex and trainer. Results: Racing longevity (0.12 ± 0.01), racing persistence (0.10 ± 0.01), racing frequency (0.03 ± 0.01), spells (a time period between consecutive races, official trials and/or jump-outs greater than 90 days in length) per year (0.05 ± 0.01), spells per 10 starts (0.03 ± 0.01) and variation of days between races (0.08 ± 0.03) were all significantly heritable for horses racing in Australia. Racing longevity (0.08 ± 0.02), racing persistence (0.04 ± 0.02), spells per year (0.06 ± 0.02) and spells per 10 starts (0.11 ± 0.04) were significantly heritable for horses racing in Hong Kong. Conclusions: The heritabilities estimated for durability traits in this study provide support for the successful and practical application of genetic selection methodologies to improving the well-being of racing Thoroughbreds.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-05-26 PubMed ID: 25758744DOI: 10.1111/evj.12436Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research examined the heritability of certain endurance traits in Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia and Hong Kong. Heritability measurements from the study suggest that genetic selection could be used to boost the health and well-being of these horses in the long term.
Objective and Methodology
- The main aim of the study was to identify traits connected to durability in Thoroughbred racehorses that are heritable, meaning that they can be passed down from parent to offspring.
- The researchers used a dataset of performance statistics from Thoroughbred horses racing in Australia and Hong Kong between the years 2000 and 2011 totaling 168,993.
- The research team estimated heritability and probability values for a variety of endurance traits. These traits were evaluated using a single trait animal model.
- The individual aspects related to the horses such as sex and trainer were also taken into account in each model.
Results
- Several endurance traits exhibited substantial heritability for horses racing in Australia. These included racing longevity (0.12 ± 0.01), racing persistence (0.10 ± 0.01), racing frequency (0.03 ± 0.01), spells per year (0.05 ± 0.01), spells per 10 starts (0.03 ± 0.01) and variation of days between races (0.08 ± 0.03).
- Similarly, several endurance traits displayed significant heritability for horses racing in Hong Kong. These were racing longevity (0.08 ± 0.02), racing persistence (0.04 ± 0.02), spells per year (0.06 ± 0.02), and spells per 10 starts (0.11 ± 0.04).
Conclusions
- The study provided quantifiable proof that durability traits are heritable in Thoroughbred racehorses.
- These findings support the idea that genetic selection methodologies could be implemented in the breeding of these horses to improve their long term well-being.
- This would serve to promote the idea of improving the welfare of racing Thoroughbreds rather than attempting to manage an overwhelming number of environmental variables.
Cite This Article
APA
Velie BD, Hamilton NA, Wade CM.
(2015).
Heritability of racing durability traits in the Australian and Hong Kong Thoroughbred racing populations.
Equine Vet J, 48(3), 275-279.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12436 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Breeding
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horses
- Running
- Selection, Genetic
- Sports
- Wounds and Injuries / genetics
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Stallones L, McManus P, McGreevy P. Sustainability and the Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industries: An Enhanced One Welfare Perspective.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 31;13(3).
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