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Phenotypic and genetic analysis of reproductive traits in horse populations with different breeding purposes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2020

M. D. Gómez Open the ORCID record for M. D. Gómez [Opens in a new window] ,
M. J. Sánchez ,
E. Bartolomé ,
I. Cervantes ,
J. Poyato-Bonilla ,
S. Demyda-Peyrás  and
M. Valera
M. D. Gómez*
Affiliation:
Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla41013, España
M. J. Sánchez
Affiliation:
Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla41013, España
E. Bartolomé
Affiliation:
Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla41013, España
I. Cervantes
Affiliation:
Dpto. Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, Madrid28040, España
J. Poyato-Bonilla
Affiliation:
Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla41013, España
S. Demyda-Peyrás
Affiliation:
Instituto de Genética Veterinaria “Ing. Fernando N. Dulout”, CONICET Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, C/60 y 118 s/n, La Plata1900, Argentina Dpto. Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Gregor Mendel, Campus Rabanales, CN-IV Km 396a, Córdoba14071, España
M. Valera
Affiliation:
Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla41013, España
*
†E-mail: pottokamdg@gmail.com
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Abstract

Reproductive traits have a major influence on the economic effectiveness of horse breeding. However, there is little information available. We evaluated the use of reproductive traits as selection criteria in official breeding programs to increase the reproductive efficiency of breeding studs, analysing 696 690 records from the pedigree data of eight Spanish horse populations, with different breeding purposes. The reproductive parameters studied in both sexes were age at first foaling (AFF), age at last foaling, average reproductive life and generational interval. In the females, the average interval between foaling (AIF) and interval between first and second foaling were also studied. There were clear differences between sexes and breeds, which may be due to management practices, breeding purposes and the status of the populations, rather than to differences in actual physiological conditions. Riding mares were the most precocious (AFF, 1937.64 to 2255.69 days) and had a more intensive reproductive use (AIF, 625.83 to 760.07 days), whereas sires used for meat production were the most precocious males (AFF, 1789.93 to 1999.75 days), although they had a shorter reproductive life (1564.34 to 1797.32 days). Heritabilities (0.02 to 0.42 in females and 0.04 to 0.28 in males) evidenced the genetic component of the reproductive traits, with Sport Horses having the higher average values. These results support the selection by AFF to improve reproductive aspects because of its medium–high heritability and its positive correlations with other important reproductive traits. The inclusion of the AIF is also recommended in sport populations, because this determines the length of the breaks between foaling and conditions the reproductive performance of the dams, as well as their selective intensity, genetic gain and genetic improvement. It is therefore an important economic parameter in breeding studs.

Keywords

equineheritabilitypedigreereproductionselection
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 14 , Issue 7 , July 2020 , pp. 1351 - 1361
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2020

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