| authors | Ducro, B.J.; Bovenhuis, Henk; Back, W. |
| source | Equine Veterinary Journal, Volume: 41, Issue: 2 (2009), pp. 139-143 |
| full text | The full text of this item is not available due to the copyrights policy of the publisher.
|
| publisher | Equine Veterinary Profession |
| URL publisher | [Website publisher]
|
| document type | Article |
| version | Final Author version |
| disciplines | Diergeneeskunde |
| abstract | Reasons for performing study: Warmblood horse studbooks
aim to breed horses with a conformation that will enable elite
future performance, but reduce the risk of injuries and
lameness. Negative conformational traits, such as
asymmetrical or ‘uneven’ forefeet would possibly diminish
performance.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence and heritability of uneven
feet and its genetic relationship to other conformation traits
as well as to sporting performance later in life in Warmblood
riding horses.
Methods: The databases of the Royal Dutch Warmblood
Studbook (KWPN, n = 44,840 horses) and Royal Dutch
Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS, n = 33,459 horses in
dressage and n = 30,474 horses in showjumping) were linked
through the unique number of each registered horse.
Therefore, heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic
correlations could be estimated from the scores of the jury at
studbook admission and the sports performance of that
population in dressage and jumping over the period
1990–2002.
Results: The prevalence of uneven feet was 5.3% on average,
and increased from under 4.5% during the first 3 years of
recording to over 8% in the years from 2000 onwards.
Heritability estimates of foot conformation traits were
moderate and ranged from 0.16 for heel height to 0.27 for
hoof shape. The genetic correlation between the trait of
uneven feet and performance in competition was negative but
weak: -0.09 with dressage and -0.12 with showjumping.
Conclusions: Predisposition to uneven feet can be reduced by
selection. Because of weak genetic correlations, the increased
prevalence is not directly associated with selection for better
sports performance or higher conformation grade. If the trait
‘uneven feet’ arises from a disproportionate relationship
between height at the withers and neck length, then selection
on conformation grade might result in development of uneven
feet. In general, limb conformation has a moderate genetic
relationship to conformation grade and foot conformation
traits have a genetic relationship to sporting performance.
Reducing occurrence of uneven feet by selection is possible,
without limiting progress in sport performance. |
| keywords | horse, heritability, genetic correlations, limb conformation |
| ISSN | 0425-1644 |
