One Hundred Years of Coat Colour Influences on Genetic Diversity in the Process of Development of a Composite Horse Breed.
Abstract: Genetic diversity and demographic parameters were computed to evaluate the historic effects of coat colour segregation in the process of configuration of the Hispano-Arabian horse (Há). Pedigree records from 207,100 individuals born between 1884 and 2019 were used. Although coat colour is not a determinant for the admission of Hispano-Arabian individuals as apt for breeding, it may provide a representative visual insight into the gene contribution of Spanish Purebred horses (PRE), given many of the dilution genes described in Há are not present in the Arabian Purebred breed (PRá). The lack of consideration of coat colour inheritance patterns by the entities in charge of individual registration and the dodging behaviour of breeders towards the historic banning policies, may have acted as a buffer for diversity loss (lower than 8%). Inbreeding levels ranged from 1.81% in smokey cream horses to 8.80 for white horses. Contextually, crossbred breeding may increase the likelihood for double dilute combinations to occur as denoted by the increased number of Há horses displaying Pearl coats (53 Há against 3 PRE and 0 PRá). Bans against certain coat colours and patterns may have prevented an appropriate registration of genealogical information from the 4th generation onwards for decades. This may have brought about the elongation of generation intervals. Breeder tastes may have returned to the formerly officially-recognised coat colours (Grey and Bay) and Chestnut/Sorrel. However, coat colour conditioning effects must be evaluated timely for relatively short specific periods, as these may describe cyclic patterns already described in owners' and breeders' tastes over the centuries.
Publication Date: 2022-02-06 PubMed ID: 35202321PubMed Central: PMC8879117DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020068Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article examines the impact of coat color preferences over the last hundred years on the genetic diversity of the Hispano-Arabian horse breed, using records of 207,100 horses born from 1884 to 2019.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- The researchers wanted to investigate the historical influence of coat color segregation on the genetic diversity in the development of Hispano-Arabian horses, a composite breed.
- They used pedigree records from 207,100 Hispano-Arabian horses, born between 1884 and 2019, to analyze diversity and demographic parameters.
- Although coat color doesn’t impact a horse’s breeding eligibility, the study considered it an important factor due to its potential to shed light on the gene contribution of Spanish Purebred horses (PRE).
- The lack of coat color inheritance consideration during horse registration and breeders’ dodge of historical banning policies was also assessed as potential factors influencing diversity in the breed.
Findings of the Study
- Analysis showed a relatively low diversity loss, less than 8%, possibly due to the disregarded coat color inheritance during registration and the breeders’ avoidance behavior.
- Various levels of inbreeding were detected, ranging from 1.81% in Smokey Cream horses to 8.80% in white horses.
- The study found that crossbreeding increased the likelihood of double-dilute combinations, as evidenced by an increased number of Hispano-Arabian horses displaying Pearl coats compared to Spanish and Arabian purebreds.
Historical Influence and Future Implications
- Policies that disallowed certain coat colors may have indirectly influenced a proper registration of genealogical information.
- Such bans may have led to longer generation intervals over decades, due to hiding of lineage information for unapproved coat colors.
- The study suggests that breeders’ tastes may cyclically return to officially recognized coat colors (Grey, Bay, and Chestnut/Sorrel) over time.
- Therefore, the influence of coat color on breed development should be evaluated for specific durations, rather than an accumulated long-term period.
The study highlights the complexity of breed development in horses, and the need for better understanding and managing the impact of breeders’ preferences on genetic diversity.
Cite This Article
APA
Marín Navas C, Delgado Bermejo JV, McLean AK, León Jurado JM, Torres ARBYR, Navas González FJ.
(2022).
One Hundred Years of Coat Colour Influences on Genetic Diversity in the Process of Development of a Composite Horse Breed.
Vet Sci, 9(2), 68.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9020068 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA.
- Centro Agropecuario Provincial de Córdoba, Diputación Provincial de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
- Unión Española de Ganaderos de Pura Raza Hispano-Árabe, 41001 Sevilla, Spain.
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 92 references
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Cardinali I, Giontella A, Tommasi A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. Unlocking Horse Y Chromosome Diversity.. Genes (Basel) 2022 Dec 2;13(12).
- Klein R, Oláh J, Mihók S, Posta J. Pedigree-Based Description of Three Traditional Hungarian Horse Breeds.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 14;12(16).
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