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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Sci J / Maternal effect on first-year growth of Hokkaido native foal...
Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho2022; 93(1); e13694; doi: 10.1111/asj.13694

Maternal effect on first-year growth of Hokkaido native foals kept outdoors all year round.

Abstract: In this study, we investigated maternal effects on the growth of Hokkaido native horses kept outdoors throughout the year. We used the data on body weight (BW), height at withers (HW), heart girth (HG), and cannon circumference (CC) of 517 foals during the first year of life to (1) examine the growth patterns by comparing six linear mixed models and (2) analyze the maternal effect on BW, HW, HG, and CC for each month by estimating variance components. The segmented polynomial third-order regression equation was selected as the best model for all the traits. The estimated proportion of variance components for the effects of the dam were 0.25-0.38 for BW, 0.19-0.28 for HW, 0.19-0.34 for HG, and 0.10-0.21 for CC. A higher effect of the dam compared with that of the sire was observed on BW and HG at all months of age and HW at 0-2 months of age. Therefore, the dam contributed to foal growth not only through half of its heredity but also through the maternal effect derived mainly from its milk. These results provide valuable information for the breeding of Hokkaido native foals.
© 2022 Japanese Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2022-02-12 PubMed ID: 35146838DOI: 10.1111/asj.13694Google 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.

The study examines how the mother horse impacts the first-year growth of Hokkaido native foals that are maintained outdoors for the entire year.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers used the data of 517 Hokkaido foals’ body weight (BW), height at withers (HW), heart girth (HG), and cannon circumference (CC) from their first year of life as the basis for the analysis.
  • The aim was to understand their growth patterns which involved comparing six distinct linear mixed models.
  • Another purpose was to determine the maternal effect on their BW, HW, HG, and CC for each month of their first year, and this required the estimation of variance components.

Findings

  • A segmented polynomial third-order regression equation was chosen as the best fitting model for all the traits.
  • The estimated proportion of variance components related to maternal effects ranged from 0.25-0.38 for BW, 0.19-0.28 for HW, 0.19-0.34 for HG, and 0.10-0.21 for CC.
  • It was observed that the mother horse had a higher influence than the male horse on the BW and HG of the foals at all ages, and their HW at ages 0-2 months.

Conclusions

  • The maternal influence on foal growth was not just through genetics or heredity, but also from the mother’s milk and its benefits.
  • This study offers crucial insights for breeders, helping them understand the impact of keeping foals outdoors all year round in Hokkaido and stressing the importance of the maternal influence on their growth.

Cite This Article

APA
Huricha , Kawai M, Inose Y, Yamada F, Ninomiya S. (2022). Maternal effect on first-year growth of Hokkaido native foals kept outdoors all year round. Anim Sci J, 93(1), e13694. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13694

Publication

Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho
ISSN: 1740-0929
NlmUniqueID: 100956805
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 93
Issue: 1
Pages: e13694

Researcher Affiliations

Huricha,
  • The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
Kawai, Masahito
  • Shizunai Livestock Farm, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Shinhidaka, Japan.
Inose, Yoshihisa
  • Shizunai Livestock Farm, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Shinhidaka, Japan.
Yamada, Fumihiro
  • Shizunai Livestock Farm, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Shinhidaka, Japan.
Ninomiya, Shigeru
  • Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Horses
  • Linear Models
  • Maternal Inheritance
  • Milk
  • Phenotype

Grant Funding

  • Shizunai Livestock Farm, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University

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