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Brazilian Sport Horse: genetic parameters for approval of Brasileiro de Hipismo stallions

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic parameters for subjective scores given at the Brazilian Sport Horse (BSH) Stallion Approval by estimating heritability (h2) for morphological, gait, and jumping traits and genetic correlations (γg) among the functional ones and by verifying selection feasibility. The analysis included 1179 complete evaluations from 294 horses, by 4.26 ± 0.96 judges. Each trait was evaluated using mixed models in SAS® v9.2, considering the individual as a random effect. Variance components and genetic parameters were obtained by single and two-trait animal models in a derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood analysis. Since many jumping traits were not described in Breed Regulation, mixed model results were used to enlighten the criteria adopted in the assignment of scores. Balanced bodies and conformations that favor collection were preferred by judges and presented moderate heritabilities. Additive variation was found for most jumping traits, with heritability equal to 0.74 (se = 0.04) for overall jump, and estimates for the separate aspects of the jump movement ranging from near null to 0.43 (se = 0.07) for temperament. Morphological scores had little effect over gait and jump scores while trot may be indicative of some additive value for jump distance and canter for hind limb mechanics. Conformation evaluations of separate body regions presented heritability estimates similar to previous studies and may provide more informative breeding values.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the Association of the Brazilian Sport Horse Breeders (ABCCH) for providing the data and to CAPES and CNPq for scholarships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Medicina Animal, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Bethânia Rocha Medeiros & Petra Garbade

  2. Instituto Federal Catarinense, Campus Araquari, Araquari, SC, Brazil

    Bethânia Rocha Medeiros & Vanessa Peripolli

  3. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Animais, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia, DF, Brazil

    Luiza Seixas & Concepta McManus

  4. INCT – Pecuária (MCT/CNPq/FAPEMIG), Brasilia, Brazil

    Concepta McManus

  5. Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia, DF, Brazil

    Concepta McManus

Authors
  1. Bethânia Rocha Medeiros
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  2. Petra Garbade
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  3. Luiza Seixas
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  4. Vanessa Peripolli
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  5. Concepta McManus
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Correspondence to Vanessa Peripolli.

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Medeiros, B.R., Garbade, P., Seixas, L. et al. Brazilian Sport Horse: genetic parameters for approval of Brasileiro de Hipismo stallions. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 1669–1680 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02168-7

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