Morpho-Functional Traits in Pura Raza Menorquina Horses: Genetic Parameters and Relationship with Coat Color Variables

Morpho-Functional Traits in Pura Raza Menorquina Horses: Genetic Parameters and Relationship with Coat Color Variables

The studbook of Pura Raza Menorquina horses only permits the use of black-coated animals with a small quantity of white marks as breeding stock. Its breeding program uses linear morpho-functional traits as selection criteria. Our aim was to estimate the genetic parameters of linear morpho-functional...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 18; p. 2319
Main Authors: Perdomo-González, Davinia I., García de Paredes, Rocío de las Aguas, Valera, Mercedes, Bartolomé, Ester, Gómez, María Dolores
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 07-09-2022
MDPI
Subjects:
Age
Animal husbandry
Animal models
Animals
Appraisers
Bayesian analysis
Bibliographies
Breeding
conformation
Correlation
Differentiation
equine
genetic correlations
Heritability
Hoof
Horse sports
Horses
linear type traits
Males
Mathematical models
Morphology
Population
Population genetics
Software
Spain
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Summary:The studbook of Pura Raza Menorquina horses only permits the use of black-coated animals with a small quantity of white marks as breeding stock. Its breeding program uses linear morpho-functional traits as selection criteria. Our aim was to estimate the genetic parameters of linear morpho-functional traits, and reveal relationship of quality of black coat color (QB) and percentage of white marks (WM) with the other morphological and functional linear traits in this breed. A total of 46 linear traits were scored by four appraisers using seven classes, with a total of 772 records from 333 animals (≥4 years old). Univariate animal models using a Bayesian approach were used, with a pedigree of 757 animals. Sex (two) and appraiser-season (13) were included as fixed effects, age as a linear covariate, and permanent environmental and additive genetic as random effect. The heritabilities of the morpho-functional traits were low to medium (0.09–0.58) and matched the range in the bibliography. Heritabilities for coat color traits were 0.36 for QB and 0.23 for WM. The highest genetic correlations were obtained between QB and upper neck line (0.816) and between WM and form of the hoof (0.638). The negative signs of most of the genetic correlations between WM and the functional traits is also remarkable, contributing to the selection of functional traits against the presence of white marks in this population. A clear genetic differentiation was observed between animals with better breeding values for QB and WM, corroborated by a study on founders. In conclusion, QB and WM could show different genetic backgrounds.
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ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani12182319