Study on Phenotypic, Genotypic and Environmental Correlations Between the Main Body Dimensions Used in the Selection Process in Horses

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the interdependence of characters, especially in terms of genetic correlation, is very important in the process of genetic improvement of domestic animal populations, as it is a basic condition in establishing the objective of selection. Methods: In this study, during 2017-2020, in order to analyze the phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlations, we used the analysis of covariance with two sources of variation. The material was represented by 538 individuals from Hucul horse breed analyzed at 18, 30 and 42 months age. Analyzed characters were wither’s height, thoracic perimeter and cannon bone perimeter. Result: All characters measured at the age of 1.5 years were closely correlated with each other. At the age of 2.5 years, all the measured characters were correlated positively with each other, registering a very close correlation between the wither’s height and the thoracic perimeter, and a weak correlation between the wither’s height and the cannon bone perimeter, and between the thoracic perimeter and the cannon bone perimeter. At the third age, there were intensely positive correlations between the wither’s height and the thoracic perimeter, and between the thoracic perimeter and the cannon bone perimeter. There was a weak positive correlation between the wither’s height and the cannon bone perimeter.