[Horse breeding: genetic tests for the coat colors chestnut, bay and black. Results from a preliminary study in the Swiss Freiberger horse breed].
Abstract: Coat color played an important role during domestication and formation of breeds. Livestock breeders often had special preferences for particular color phenotypes because they believed them to be associated with performance or fitness traits. Socio-cultural reasons might have had an influence on color selection as well. Recently genetic tests on DNA level got available to genotype in any individual horse for basic horse coat colors (chestnut, bay, black). In particular, hidden carriers of the recessive chestnut and black allele are recognizable with these tests. A sample of 162 Franches-Montagnes horses from Switzerland was genotyped for the alleles for chestnut and black. The analysis of allele frequencies revealed a high prevalence of the chestnut allele and a low frequency of the black allele in this population. Rare colors are in demand on the market. The statistical analysis of 1369 offspring from five stallions indicate, that darker shades of basic color phenotypes (dark chestnut, dark bay) follow a recessive mode of inheritance in the Franches-Montagnes horse breed.
Publication Date: 2002-09-13 PubMed ID: 12224446DOI: 10.1024/0036-7281.144.8.405Google Scholar: Lookup
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- English Abstract
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research is about a study carried out to use genetic tests for identifying the coat colors, specifically chestnut, bay, and black, of the Swiss Freiberger horse breed. This study discovered a high prevalence of the chestnut allele and a low frequency of the black allele. It also indicated that darker shades of basic color phenotypes are recessive in this breed.
Genetic Test for Horse Coat Colors
- The study utilized genetic tests that are now available and can be used to genotype the basic horse coat colors. These colors include chestnut, bay, and black.
- The tests make it possible to identify hidden carriers; horses that carry the recessive chestnut and black allele.
- The genetic tests were carried on a sample of 162 Franches-Montagnes horses, which is a breed from Switzerland.
Allele Frequency Analysis
- The research involves the analysis of allele frequencies. Alleles are versions of a gene that occur in the same place on a chromosome.
- The goal was to find the prevalence of the chestnut and black alleles in the Franches-Montagnes horse breed.
- The analysis revealed a high prevalence of the chestnut allele and a very low frequency of the black allele in this population.
Color Demand on the Market
- The study recognized that rarity in the color of horses is a desirable trait in the market. Therefore, understanding the genetics behind the horse coat color can have economic implications for breeders.
Statistical Analysis of Offspring Coat Color
- 1369 offspring from five stallions from the Franches-Montagnes horse breed were considered in a statistical analysis.
- The analysis indicated that darker shades of the basic color phenotypes, such as dark chestnut and dark bay, follow a recessive mode of inheritance in this breed.
- Therefore, lighter color phenotypes are dominant and darker color phenotypes are recessive in this breed. This information can be useful for predicting the colors of offspring from certain pairings.
Cite This Article
APA
Henner J, Poncet PA, Aebi L, Hagger C, Stranzinger G, Rieder S.
(2002).
[Horse breeding: genetic tests for the coat colors chestnut, bay and black. Results from a preliminary study in the Swiss Freiberger horse breed].
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd, 144(8), 405-412.
https://doi.org/10.1024/0036-7281.144.8.405 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften der ETH Zürich.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Breeding
- Female
- Gene Frequency
- Genes, Recessive
- Genotype
- Hair Color / genetics
- Horses / genetics
- Male
- Pedigree
- Phenotype
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Switzerland
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