Abstract
Received: 2018-09-12 | Accepted: 2018-11-27 | Available online: 2018-12-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2018.21.04.186-189 Most successful selection strategies are not in use in horse selection. This study describes the use of current strategies of selection in horse and tries to answers why well known, scientifically proven selection strategies are still not implemented. In the era of genomic selection (GS) in animal breeding, decision making in horse selection, even classical values (BV), are not fully taken advantage of. Breeding organizations (BO) which implement BVs as selection criteria in their programs show great success in genetic gain. However, a horse's achievements and the popularity of its relatives still plays an important role in selection level. Genomic based selection tools in horse have limitations in quantitative traits since it is difficult to establish reference population. Mendelian traits have been studied for several years, especially those related to horse health and functional longevity (long sport or race careers), yet there are still only a small number of validated mendelian traits offered for horses. The important benefit of GS is the prevention of related mating based on genomic data, in addition to pedigree data. The specialty in horse is the use of cloning. From the point of view of genetic variability, cloning is useful in enabling geldings or non-genetically infertile animals to carry genes to next generations. In sport and race BOs, stallions from foreign BOs are frequently used. In such cases a need for comparable BVs exists. These factors were the motivation behind the establishment of Interstallion 20 years ago. Due to difficulties in BO collaboration, Interstallion has not been as successful as planned. On the whole, it is expected that the sector of horse selection will need to change considerably in the future. 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Highlights
Horse selection is not much younger than horse domestication
The aim of this study is to describe the use of current strategies of selection in horse breeding and to find answers to why well known, scientifically based selection strategies, routinely practiced in cattle selection, are not in use in horse selection
Those of us who know that the generation interval in horses is much longer than in dairy cattle, where genomic selection (GS) has been in routine use, with great success, during the last decade, have high expectations for horse selection (Reed, 2018)
Summary
Most successful selection strategies are not in use in horse selection. This study describes the use of current strategies of selection in horse breeding and tries to answers why well known, scientifically proven selection strategies are still not implemented. Genomic based selection tools in horse breeding have limitations in quantitative traits since it is difficult to establish reference population. The specialty in horse breeding is the use of cloning. In sport and race BOs, breeding stallions from foreign BOs are frequently used. In such cases a need for comparable BVs exists. These factors were the motivation behind the establishment of Interstallion 20 years ago.
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