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Founder-specific inbreeding depression affects racing performance in Thoroughbred horses
Evelyn T Todd1, Simon Y W Ho2, Peter C Thomson2
1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. evelyn.todd@sydney.edu.au.
Scientific Reports
|April 20, 2018
Summary
Selective breeding in Thoroughbred horses has not removed genetic load effectively. However, evidence suggests genetic purging may have improved racing performance over time, highlighting the importance of understanding genetic load distribution.
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Quantitative Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The Thoroughbred horse breed, established in the 1700s, is significant in sports and economics.
- Extensive pedigree and phenotypic data offer a unique resource for studying selective breeding's impact on genetic load.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of 300 years of selective breeding on genetic load in the Australian Thoroughbred horse population.
- To analyze the relationship between inbreeding and racing performance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the relationship between inbreeding and racing performance in 135,572 Thoroughbred individuals.
- Examination of the contribution of ancestral individuals to contemporary inbreeding.
Main Results:
- Selective breeding has not efficiently reduced genetic load in the Australian Thoroughbred population.
- Evidence of genetic purging potentially improving racing performance over time was observed.
- A small number of foundation ancestors account for over 80% of current inbreeding, with variable fitness effects.
Conclusions:
- Understanding genetic load distribution is crucial for enhancing the phenotypic value of populations.
- Findings are relevant for domestic breeds, endangered populations, and Thoroughbreds.
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