FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / The Relevance of the Expected Value of the Proportion of Ara...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(12); doi: 10.3390/ani13121973

The Relevance of the Expected Value of the Proportion of Arabian Genes in Genetic Evaluations for Eventing Competitions.

Abstract: The Arabian horse is a generally reliable sport horse, and continues to be a remarkable endurance horse, so the relevance of the expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes (EV%AG) in horses participating in eventing could be a relevant factor. A total of 1089 horses participating in eventing (8866 records) were used. A GLM revealed that the EV%AG was significant in dressage, show jumping and cross-country. A BLUP genetic evaluation was computed with five genetic models (without the EV%AG (0) using as a covariate (A), as a fixed effect (B), with variance heterogeneity, and in genetic groups without (C) and with (D)). Dressage heritability ranged from 0.103 to 0.210, show jumping ranged from 0.117 to 0.203 and cross-country ranged from 0.070 to 0.099. The lowest DIC value was used as a criterion of fitness. The best fits (those which included variance heterogeneity) showed fewer than two points of difference in DIC values. The highest average estimated breeding value in dressage, show jumping and cross-country was found for horses with an expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes of 0%, ≥1% to <25%, and 100%, respectively. Therefore, the best way to model the EV%AG effect seems to be by considering the variance heterogeneity.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-06-13 PubMed ID: 37370483PubMed Central: PMC10295017DOI: 10.3390/ani13121973Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 research study investigates the impact of the expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes (EV%AG) in horses participating in eventing competitions, and determines that Arabian genes have a significant impact on the performance of horses in different events such as dressage, show jumping and cross-country.

Objective of the Study

  • The goal of the study was to analyse the relevance of EV%AG (the expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes) on the performance of horses in eventing competitions.

Research Methodology

  • The study was carried out using data from a total of 1089 horses participating in eventing competitions, amounting to 8866 records in total.
  • A Generalised Linear Model (GLM) was used to determine the influence of EV%AG on performance in dressage, show jumping and cross-country.
  • A “Best Linear Unbiased Prediction” (BLUP) genetic evaluation was carried out using five different genetic models. This included models excluding the EV%AG, treating EV%AG as a covariate, treating it as a fixed effect, and accounting for variance heterogeneity with and without EV%AG.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found that the EV%AG had a significant impact on dressage, show jumping and cross-country performance.
  • The heritability (the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors) varied across different types of competition, being highest in dressage and lowest in cross-country.
  • The genetic model with the lowest Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) value, a measure used to assess the goodness-of-fit of a statistical model, was deemed the best fit. Among these, the models including variance heterogeneity showed the closest fits.
  • The average estimated breeding value was highest in dressage for horses with 0% Arabian genes, in show jumping for horses with at least 1% but less than 25% Arabian genes, and in cross-country for horses with 100% Arabian genes.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The best method to model the effect of EV%AG involves considering the variance heterogeneity.
  • The presence of Arabian genes has been concluded as a determinant factor impacting the performance of eventing horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Ripollés-Lobo M, Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Valera M. (2023). The Relevance of the Expected Value of the Proportion of Arabian Genes in Genetic Evaluations for Eventing Competitions. Animals (Basel), 13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121973

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Sánchez-Guerrero, María José
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Ripollés-Lobo, María
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Bartolomé, Ester
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Perdomo-González, Davinia Isabel
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Valera, Mercedes
  • Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 52 references
  1. Nolte W, Thaller G, Kuehn C. Selection signatures in four German warmblood horse breeds: Tracing breeding history in the modern sport horse.. PLoS ONE 2019;14:e0215913.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215913pmc: PMC6483353pubmed: 31022261google scholar: lookup
  2. Pirault P, Danvy S, Verrier E, Leroy G. Genetic Structure and Gene Flows within Horses: A Genealogical Study at the French Population Scale.. PLoS ONE 2013;8:e61544.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061544pmc: PMC3632587pubmed: 23630596google scholar: lookup
  3. Tang G, Yang R, Xue J, Liu T, Zeng Z, Jiang A, Jiang Y, Li M, Zhu L, Bai L. Optimising a crossbreeding production system using three specialised imported swine breeds in south-western China.. Anim. Prod. Sci. 2014;54:999.
    doi: 10.1071/AN13308google scholar: lookup
  4. Aberle K, Wrede J, Distl O. Analysis of relationships between German heavy horse breeds based on pedigree information.. Berl. Munch. Tierarztl. Wochenschr. 2004;117:72–75.
    pubmed: 14964127
  5. Cervantes I, Gutiérrez J.P., Molina A, Goyache F, Valera M. Genealogical analyses in open populations: The case of three Arab-derived Spanish horse breeds.. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 2009;126:335–347.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2008.00797.xpubmed: 19765160google scholar: lookup
  6. Hellsten E.T., Näsholm A, Jorjani H, Strandberg E, Philipsson J. Influence of foreign stallions on the Swedish Warmblood breed and its genetic evaluation.. Livest. Sci. 2009;121:207–214.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.06.014google scholar: lookup
  7. Bartolomé E, Cervantes I, Valera M, Gutiérrez J.P.. Influence of foreign breeds on the genetic structure of the Spanish Sport Horse population.. Livest. Sci. 2011;142:70–79.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.06.021google scholar: lookup
  8. Cervantes I, Bartolomé E, Valera M, Gutiérrez J.P., Molina A. Crossbreed genetic performance study in the eventing horse competition.. Anim. Prod. Sci. 2016;56:1454–1462.
    doi: 10.1071/AN14677google scholar: lookup
  9. Wipper A. The Partnership: The Horse-Rider Relationship in Eventing.. Symb. Interact. 2000;23:47–70.
    doi: 10.1525/si.2000.23.1.47google scholar: lookup
  10. Bennet E.D., Cameron-Whytock H, Parkin T.D.H.. Fédération Equestre Internationale eventing: Risk factors for horse falls and unseated riders during the cross-country phase (2008–2018). Equine Vet. J. 2022;54:885–894.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13522pubmed: 34608658google scholar: lookup
  11. Głazewska I. Speculations on the origin of the Arabian horse breed.. Livest. Sci. 2010;129:49–55.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2009.12.009google scholar: lookup
  12. Chmiel K., Gajewska A., Sobczuk D. Comparison of Use Value of Purebred Arabian Horses Raised in Different Breeding Centers in the Years 1924–1977. [(accessed on 31 March 2023)]. Available online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume9/issue1/art-34.html.
  13. Taylor R.E., Robert E., Field T.G., Thomas G. Scientific Farm Animal Production: An Introduction to Animal Science. Volume 764. Prentice Hall; Hoboken, NJ, USA: 2004.
  14. Benia A.R., Selles S.M., Benamor N. Morphometric characterization of purebred Arabian horses for galop racing (Born and raised in Algeria). Coll. Vet. Med./Univ. Mosul. 2022;36:959–966.
    doi: 10.33899/ijvs.2022.132670.2120google scholar: lookup
  15. Medugorac I., Veit-Kensch C.E., Ramljak J., Brka M., Marković B., Stojanović S., Bytyqi H., Kochoski L., Kume K., Grünenfelder H.-P.. Conservation priorities of genetic diversity in domesticated metapopulations: A Study in taurine cattle breeds.. Ecol. Evol. 2011;1:408–420.
    doi: 10.1002/ece3.39pmc: PMC3287311pubmed: 22393510google scholar: lookup
  16. Koenen E.P.C., Aldridge L.I., Philipsson J. An overview of breeding objectives for warmblood sport horses.. Livest. Prod. Sci. 2004;88:77–84.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2003.10.011google scholar: lookup
  17. Cervantes I., Molina A, Goyache F, Gutiérrez J.P., Valera M. Population history and genetic variability in the Spanish Arab Horse assessed via pedigree analysis.. Livest. Sci. 2008;113:24–33.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.02.011google scholar: lookup
  18. Braam Å., Näsholm A, Roepstorff L, Philipsson J. Genetic variation in durability of Swedish Warmblood horses using competition results.. Livest. Sci. 2011;142:181–187.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.07.011google scholar: lookup
  19. Arias K.D., Cervantes I., Gutiérrez J.P.. Impact of the event effect in genetic evaluation for ranking traits in horses.. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 2022;139:13–25.
    doi: 10.1111/jbg.12645pubmed: 34494688google scholar: lookup
  20. Cervantes I., Gutiérrez J.P., García-ballesteros S., Varona L. Combining threshold, thurstonian and classical linear models in horse genetic evaluations for endurance competitions.. Animals 2020;10:1075.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10061075pmc: PMC7341300pubmed: 32580415google scholar: lookup
  21. Doyle J.L., Carroll C.J., Corbally A.F., Fahey A.G.. An overview of international genetic evaluations of show jumping in sport horses.. Transl. Anim. Sci. 2022;6:1–9.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txac038pmc: PMC9071089pubmed: 35529043google scholar: lookup
  22. García-Ballesteros S., Varona L., Valera M., Gutiérrez J.P., Cervantes I. Cross-validation analysis for genetic evaluation models for ranking in endurance horses.. Animal 2018;12:20–27.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731117001331pubmed: 28633685google scholar: lookup
  23. Giontella A., Sarti F.M., Biggio G.P., Giovannini S., Cherchi R., Silvestrelli M., Pieramati C. Elo Method and Race Traits: A New Integrated System for Sport Horse Genetic Evaluation.. Animals 2020;10:1145.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10071145pmc: PMC7401530pubmed: 32640698google scholar: lookup
  24. Negro S., Sánchez-Guerrero M.J., Bartolomé E., Solé M., Gómez M.D., Membrillo A., Molina A., Valera M. Evidence for the effect of serotoninergic and dopaminergic gene variants on stress levels in horses participating in dressage and harness racing.. Anim. Prod. Sci. 2019;59:2206–2211.
    doi: 10.1071/AN18358google scholar: lookup
  25. Stat Soft Statistica Software v. 11.0. (Data Analysis Software System) [(accessed on 3 December 2022)]. Available online: www.statsoft.com.
  26. Jaffrezic F., White I.M.S., Thompson R., Hill W.G.. A link function approach to model heterogeneity of residual variances over time in lactation curve analyses.. J. Dairy Sci. 2000;83:1089–1093.
    doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)74973-3pubmed: 10821584google scholar: lookup
  27. Muff S., Niskanen A.K., Saatoglu D., Keller L.F., Jensen H. Animal models with group-specific additive genetic variances: Extending genetic group models.. Genet. Sel. Evol. 2019;51:7.
    doi: 10.1186/s12711-019-0449-7pmc: PMC6394059pubmed: 30819110google scholar: lookup
  28. Westell R.A., Quaas R.L., Van Vleck L.D.. Genetic Groups in an Animal Model.. J. Dairy Sci. 1988;71:1310–1318.
    doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(88)79688-5google scholar: lookup
  29. Misztal I., Lourenco D., Legarra A. Current status of genomic evaluation.. J. Anim. Sci. 2020;98:skaa101.
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa101pmc: PMC7183352pubmed: 32267923google scholar: lookup
  30. Plummer M., Best N., Cowles K., Vines K. {CODA}: Convergence Diagnosis and Output Analysis for {MCMC} R News.. 2006;6:7–11.
  31. Spiegelhalter D.J., Best N.G., Carlin B.P., Van Der Linde A. Bayesian measures of model complexity and fit.. J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B Stat. Methodol. 2002;64:583–616.
    doi: 10.1111/1467-9868.00353google scholar: lookup
  32. Bartolomé E., Valera M., Fernández J., Rodríguez-Ramilo S.T.. Effects of selection on breed contribution in the caballo de deporte español.. Animals 2022;12:1635.
    doi: 10.3390/ani12131635pmc: PMC9264983pubmed: 35804534google scholar: lookup
  33. Hanot P., Herrel A., Guintard C., Cornette R. Morphological integration in the appendicular skeleton of two domestic taxa: The horse and donkey.. Proc. R. Soc. B. 2017;284:20171241.
    doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1241pmc: PMC5647294pubmed: 28978726google scholar: lookup
  34. Hanot P., Herrel A., Guintard C., Cornette R. Unravelling the hybrid vigor in domestic equids: The effect of hybridization on bone shape variation and covariation.. BMC Evol. Biol. 2019;19:1–13.
    doi: 10.1186/s12862-019-1520-2pmc: PMC6794909pubmed: 31615394google scholar: lookup
  35. FAO. Evaluation of Breeds and Crosses of Domestic Animals.. FAO; Rome, Italy: 1993.
  36. Arnold M.L., Martin N.H. Hybrid fitness across time and habitats.. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2010;25:530–536.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2010.06.005pubmed: 20598770google scholar: lookup
  37. Birchler J.A., Yao H., Chudalayandi S. Unraveling the genetic basis of hybrid vigor.. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2006;103:12957–12958.
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.0605627103pmc: PMC1559732pubmed: 16938847google scholar: lookup
  38. Stelkens R.B., Brockhurst M.A., Hurst G.D.D., Miller E.L., Greig D. The effect of hybrid transgression on environmental tolerance in experimental yeast crosses.. J. Evol. Biol. 2014;27:2507–2519.
    doi: 10.1111/jeb.12494pubmed: 25262771google scholar: lookup
  39. Arnason T. Genetic Improvement of the Horse.. In: Bowling A.T., Ruvinsky A., editors. The Genetics of the Horse. CABI Publishing; New York, NY, USA: 2000. pp. 473–497.
  40. Sánchez Guerrero M.J., Cervantes I., Valera M., Gutiérrez J.P.. Modelling genetic evaluation for dressage in pura raza español horses with focus on the rider effect.. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 2014;131:395–402.
    doi: 10.1111/jbg.12088pubmed: 24673743google scholar: lookup
  41. Bartolomé E., Sánchez M.J., Molina A., Schaefer A.L., Cervantes I., Valera M. Using eye temperature and heart rate for stress assessment in young horses competing in jumping competitions and its possible influence on sport performance.. Animal 2013;7:2044–2053.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731113001626pubmed: 24067493google scholar: lookup
  42. Cervantes I., Bodin L., Valera M., Molina A., Gutiérrez J.P.. Challenging the selection for consistency in the rank of endurance competitions.. Genet. Sel. Evol. 2020;52:1–8.
    doi: 10.1186/s12711-020-00539-5pmc: PMC7149905pubmed: 32276582google scholar: lookup
  43. Gutiérrez J.P., Nieto B., Piqueras P., Ibáñez N., Salgado C. Genetic parameters for canalisation analysis of litter size and litter weight traits at birth in mice.. Genet. Sel. Evol. 2006;38:445–462.
    doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-38-5-445pmc: PMC2689256pubmed: 16954039google scholar: lookup
  44. Ricard A., Chanu I. Genetic parameters of eventing horse competition in France.. Genet. Sel. Evol. 2001;33:175–190.
    doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-33-2-175pmc: PMC2705390pubmed: 11333833google scholar: lookup
  45. Kearsley C.G.S., Woolliams J.A., Coffey M.P., Brotherstone S. Use of competition data for genetic evaluations of eventing horses in Britain: Analysis of the dressage, showjumping and cross country phases of eventing competition.. Livest. Sci. 2008;118:72–81.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.01.009google scholar: lookup
  46. Stewart I.D., White I.M.S., Gilmour A.R., Thompson R., Woolliams J.A., Brotherstone S. Estimating variance components and predicting breeding values for eventing disciplines and grades in sport horses.. Animal 2012;6:1377–1388.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731112000596pubmed: 23031512google scholar: lookup
  47. Rovere G., Ducro B.J., van Arendonk J.A.M., Norberg E., Madsen P. Genetic correlations between dressage, show jumping and studbook-entry inspection traits in a process of specialization in Dutch Warmblood horses.. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 2017;134:162–171.
    doi: 10.1111/jbg.12241pubmed: 27678258google scholar: lookup
  48. Ducro B.J., Koenen E.P.C., van Tartwijk J.M.F.M., Bovenhuis H. Genetic relations of movement and free-jumping traits with dressage and show-jumping performance in competition of Dutch Warmblood horses.. Livest. Sci. 2007;107:227–234.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2006.09.018google scholar: lookup
  49. Huizinga H.A., van der Meij G.J.W.. Estimated parameters of performance in jumping and dressage competition of the Dutch Warmblood horse.. Livest. Prod. Sci. 1989;21:333–345.
    doi: 10.1016/0301-6226(89)90093-6google scholar: lookup
  50. Viklund A., Braam A., Näsholm A., Strandberg E., Philipsson J. Genetic variation in competition traits at different ages and time periods and correlations with traits at field tests of 4-year-old Swedish Warmblood horses.. Animal 2010;4:682–691.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731110000017pubmed: 22444120google scholar: lookup
  51. Sánchez-Guerrero M.J., Cervantes I., Molina A., Gutiérrez J.P., Valera M. Designing an early selection morphological linear traits index for dressage in the Pura Raza Español horse.. Animal 2017;11:948–957.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731116002214pubmed: 27839527google scholar: lookup
  52. Sánchez M.J., Bartolomé E., Valera M. Genetic study of stress assessed with infrared thermography during dressage competitions in the Pura Raza Español horse.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2016;174:58–65.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.11.006google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.