Dataset Information

A genome-wide association study for harness racing success in the Norwegian-Swedish coldblooded trotter reveals genes for learning and energy metabolism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although harness racing is of high economic importance to the global equine industry, significant genomic resources have yet to be applied to mapping harness racing success. To identify genomic regions associated with harness racing success, the current study performs genome-wide association analyses with three racing performance traits in the Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter using the 670 K Axiom Equine Genotyping Array.

Results

Following quality control, 613 horses and 359,635 SNPs were retained for further analysis. After strict Bonferroni correction, nine genome-wide significant SNPs were identified for career earnings. No genome-wide significant SNPs were identified for number of gallops or best km time. However, four suggestive genome-wide significant SNPs were identified for number of gallops, while 19 were identified for best km time. Multiple genes related to intelligence, energy metabolism, and immune function were identified as potential candidate genes for harness racing success.

Conclusions

Apart from the physiological requirements needed for a harness racing horse to be successful, the results of the current study also advocate learning ability and memory as important elements for harness racing success. Further exploration into the mental capacity required for a horse to achieve racing success is likely warranted.

SUBMITTER: Velie BD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6114527 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A genome-wide association study for harness racing success in the Norwegian-Swedish coldblooded trotter reveals genes for learning and energy metabolism.

Velie Brandon D BD Fegraeus Kim Jäderkvist KJ Solé Marina M Rosengren Maria K MK Røed Knut H KH Ihler Carl-Fredrik CF Strand Eric E Lindgren Gabriella G

BMC genetics 20180829 1

<h4>Background</h4>Although harness racing is of high economic importance to the global equine industry, significant genomic resources have yet to be applied to mapping harness racing success. To identify genomic regions associated with harness racing success, the current study performs genome-wide association analyses with three racing performance traits in the Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter using the 670 K Axiom Equine Genotyping Array.<h4>Results</h4>Following quality control, 613 hors ...[more]

PMID: 30157760

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Project description:BackgroundSince the 1950s, the Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded trotter (NSCT) has been intensively selected for harness racing performance. As a result, the racing performance of the NSCT has improved remarkably; however, this improved racing performance has also been accompanied by a gradual increase in inbreeding level. Inbreeding in NSCT has historically been monitored by using traditional methods that are based on pedigree analysis, but with recent advancements in genomics, the NSCT industry has shown interest in adopting molecular approaches for the selection and maintenance of this breed. Consequently, the aims of the current study were to estimate genomic-based inbreeding coefficients, i.e. the proportion of runs of homozygosity (ROH), for a sample of NSCT individuals using high-density genotyping array data, and subsequently to compare the resulting rate of genomic-based F (FROH) to that of pedigree-based F (FPED) coefficients within the breed.ResultsA total of 566 raced NSCT were available for analyses. Average FROH ranged from 1.78 to 13.95%. Correlations between FROH and FPED were significant (P?<?0.001) and ranged from 0.27 to 0.56, with FPED and FROH from 2000 to 2009 increasing by 1.48 and 3.15%, respectively. Comparisons of ROH between individuals yielded 1403 regions that were present in at least 95% of the sampled horses. The average percentage of a single chromosome covered in ROH ranged from 9.84 to 18.82% with chromosome 31 and 18 showing, respectively, the largest and smallest amount of homozygosity.ConclusionsGenomic inbreeding coefficients were higher than pedigree inbreeding coefficients with both methods showing a gradual increase in inbreeding level in the NSCT breed between 2000 and 2009. Opportunities exist for the NSCT industry to develop programs that provide breeders with easily interpretable feedback on regions of the genome that are suboptimal from the perspective of genetic merit or that are sensitive to inbreeding within the population. The use of molecular data to identify genomic regions that may contribute to inbreeding depression in the NSCT will likely prove to be a valuable tool for the preservation of its genetic diversity in the long term.

Project description:Simple Summary Many subclinical medical disorders are considered as possible causes of decreased performance in racehorses. The present study aims to evaluate the associations between different disorders diagnosed in 248 poorly performing Standardbreds and their racing outcomes in the periods of time around hospitalization and their lifetime careers. In particular, the effects of respiratory, cardiovascular, gastric, and muscular conditions on number of starts, wins, placings, and earnings were investigated. Inflammation of the lower airways was associated with worse racing results in the periods before and after hospitalization and with a shorter and less successful career, confirming its role in performance impairment. Other conditions negatively influencing short-term racing outcomes included dynamic obstructions of the upper airway and gastric ulcers, while the role of exertional rhabdomyolysis was not clear. Finally, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and cardiac arrhythmias did not seem to affect Standardbred trotters’ performance. Abstract Poor performance in racehorses is commonly associated with subclinical diseases. This study aims to evaluate the associations between medical disorders and racing results in Standardbred trotters. The clinical records of 248 poorly performing Standardbreds were retrospectively reviewed, and their racing results were extracted from an online database, concerning the periods 3 months before and 6 months after hospitalization and the entire lifetime. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the effects of different disorders on racing outcomes. Airway neutrophilia was associated with limiting lifetime starts and wins pre- and post-hospitalization, while mastocytosis was associated with less wins in the post-hospitalization period. Therefore, lower airway inflammation showed both short- and long-term impacts on racing performance. Severe upper airway obstructions and gastric ulcers showed associations with less placings in the post-discharge period but no long-term influence on performance. The significance of exertional rhabdomyolysis was indeterminable, yet interference with the number of starts in the post-discharge period was reported and associated with lower total career earnings. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and cardiac arrhythmias were not associated with worse racing outcomes: therefore, their role in poor performance remains unclear.

Dataset Information

A genome-wide association study for harness racing success in the Norwegian-Swedish coldblooded trotter reveals genes for learning and energy metabolism.

Background

Results

Conclusions

Publications

A genome-wide association study for harness racing success in the Norwegian-Swedish coldblooded trotter reveals genes for learning and energy metabolism.

Similar Datasets

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