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Home / Equine Research Bank / PeerJ / Horse phenotyping based on video image analysis of jumping p...
PeerJ2019; 7; e7450; doi: 10.7717/peerj.7450

Horse phenotyping based on video image analysis of jumping performance for conservation breeding.

Abstract: Many horse breeds in the world are reserved as genetic resources; however, their characteristics seem to be insufficiently clarified, especially in terms of horse performance. Two jumping ability evaluation methods have been used to compare different types of performance breeds and on this basis their applicability for precision phenotyping has been determined. Methods: Jumping data of 186 young Polish Warmblood stallions (27 with an endangered status) bred for sport and multipurpose use was collected during their performance tests organised under identical environmental conditions following the same guidelines. Jumping data consisted of objective measurements of free jumping parameters and the marks for jumping. Video recordings of 514 jumps (73 records for 27 stallions with an endangered status) were collected using a digital Panasonic AG-EZ 35 camera (25 fr/sec). Filming was recorded during a free jumping test in the line on a doublebarre obstacle (100-120 cm × 100 cm). Spatial and temporal variables of the jump were measured. The analysis of variance was performed (SAS, General Linear Model and Mixed procedures) using the statistical model, which included the random effect of the horse and fixed effects of the year of test, breeding status, height of jump and the successive number of the jump for objective kinematic data. The fixed effects of the year of test and breeding status were included in the model for subjective performance test data. Results: Performance marks for free jumping were lower in the endangered group of stallions in the trainers' opinion ( ≤ 0.05), while no statistically significant differences were found in the judges' opinions. Statistically significant differences in jumping variables were measured for the bascule points-the elevations of the withers and croup were higher in the endangered group ( ≤ 0.001) and the take-off time was prolonged ( ≤ 0.05), which explained the subjective evaluation. Conclusions: The use of objective evaluation methods provides important information for practice, as phenotypic differences between horses may be unclear in the subjective evaluation. The objective evaluation should be used to characterise the performance potential of different breeds, because the information from the evaluators might not be consistent. Such characteristics should be recorded at least for every new population.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-09 PubMed ID: 31413931PubMed Central: PMC6690333DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7450Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research focuses on characterizing horse breeds, specifically Polish Warmblood stallions, based on two evaluation methods of jumping performance, for better conservation breeding. The study establishes a distinction between the evaluations by trainers and judges, offering an argument for using objective evaluation methods for a more clear and consistent analysis of horse performance.

Objective and methods of the research

  • The research aims to explore the characteristics of different horse breeds in terms of jumping performance for conservation breeding, particularly focusing on Polish Warmblood stallions, including those with an endangered status.
  • The researchers compared two different methods of evaluating horse’s jumping ability for this purpose. The performance data of 186 stallions were collected under identical environmental conditions and guidelines.
  • The jumping data comprised of objective measurements of free jumping parameters and the scores for jumping. All these jumps were video recorded using a digital camera and the temporal and spatial variables were measured.
  • This collected data was analyzed using statistical models to account for factors such as the year of the test, breeding status of horse, height of jump, and successive number of jumps for the objective kinematic data.

Results of the study

  • The results indicate a discrepancy between the evaluations by the trainers and the judges of horse performance. The trainers gave lower performance marks to the endangered group of stallions while no significant differences were found in the judges’ opinions.
  • The study found significant differences in jumping variables, particularly the bascule points which are the elevations of the horse’s withers and croup, and the take-off time of the jump. The endangered group had higher elevations and prolonged take-off time which contributed to the subjective evaluation.

Conclusions and implications of the study

  • The study concludes by advocating for the use of objective evaluation methods for assessing horse performance since subjective evaluations can often be inconsistent and unclear.
  • This objective evaluation will serve to better characterize the performance potential of different horse breeds, particularly important for endangered breeds for conservation breeding purposes.
  • The researchers suggest that such characteristics should be recorded for every new population.

Cite This Article

APA
Lewczuk D, Metera-Zarzycka E. (2019). Horse phenotyping based on video image analysis of jumping performance for conservation breeding. PeerJ, 7, e7450. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7450

Publication

PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
NlmUniqueID: 101603425
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: e7450
PII: e7450

Researcher Affiliations

Lewczuk, Dorota
  • Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding PAS, Jastrzebiec, Poland.
Metera-Zarzycka, Ewa
  • Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding PAS, Jastrzebiec, Poland.
  • Bioekspert Sp. z o. o., Warszawa, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared there are no competing interests exist.

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