EJPAU 2007. Sobczuk D. ESTIMATION OF THE BREEDING VALUE OF PUREBRED ARABIAN LEADING SIRES USED FOR REPRODUCTION AT MICHALOW STUD, BASED ON THEIR DIMENSIONS

Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.

2007
Volume 10
Issue 1

Topic:

Animal Husbandry

ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES

Sobczuk D. 2007. ESTIMATION OF THE BREEDING VALUE OF PUREBRED ARABIAN LEADING SIRES USED FOR REPRODUCTION AT MICHALOW STUD, BASED ON THEIR DIMENSIONS, EJPAU 10(1), #18.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume10/issue1/art-18.html

ESTIMATION OF THE BREEDING VALUE OF PUREBRED ARABIAN LEADING SIRES USED FOR REPRODUCTION AT MICHALOW STUD, BASED ON THEIR DIMENSIONS

Dorota Sobczuk
Department of Animal Breeding and Use, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland

ABSTRACT

Under evaluation came 38 purebred Arabian stallions used as leading sires at Michałów Stud in the years 1983-2003, siring 586 heads of progeny. For their biometrical traits computed were the following indices: the Relative Genetic Value (RGV), Index of a Stallion (I) and Breeding Value (WH). It was found, that as decided improvers should be considered such stallions, as Arbil, bay, 1981; Ecaho, gr. 1990; Gadir, gr. 1977; Palas, gr. 1968; and Wojsław, bay, 1986; whereas pronounced degraders proved the following stallions: Aloes, bay,1973; Bandos, gr. 1964, Europejczyk, bay, 1982 and Falsyfikat, gr. 1984.

Key words: Arabian horses, breeding value, dimensions, stallions.

INTRODUCTION

A breeding program realized in a consistent way, directed and studied mating and discriminating selection result for the Arabian horse breeders in obtaining a product of the highest quality, searched throughout the world. Improving of Polish Arabian horses, as well as creation of their desired model, adequate to the contemporary goals of use, should be based on a suitable method of selecting appropriate stallions for reproduction.

One of the most widely known development traits of contemporary horses is their height in withers. According to the “Breeding Program for Purebred Arabian Horses in Poland”, elaborated by the team of experts of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Union (I. Zawadzka M.Sc., Prof. M. Budzyński and Prof. K. Chmiel) [9], the Arabian horse are of a moderate size, from 146 to 156 cm in withers. Desert-bred Arabians, raised by Bedouins, often didn`t reach even the bottom limit, but their stamina was incomparable. Nowadays, especially in American breeding, favored are more sizeable horses, maintaining, however, their type and refinement. The circumference in girth for Arabian horses falls within a compartment of 170 – 185 cm, whereas the circumference of cannon – of 17 – 18.5 cm.

Changes in the Arabian horse population concern mainly gradual alternations of their biometrical indices. They result from the creative, breeding work, realized mainly through selection of appropriate stallions. In the research conducted until now analysed was the influence of Ma³opolska producers on shaping of biometrical indices of the breed [1, 2, 3], whereas that problem wasn’t properly explained in Polish hippological literature, as far, as purebred Arabians are concerned [8].

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Evaluated were 38 purebred Arabian stallions used for reproduction in Polish breeding in the years 1983-2003, sires to 586 heads of progeny. To comparison taken were groups of paternal siblings, consisting of 5 or more heads of progeny by one sire. For the paternal siblings groups computed were coefficients of heritability (h²), calculated by the analysis of variance method from the paternal component for siblings. The groups were compared according to average biometrical indices computed for the height in withers, circumference in girth and in cannon.

For the comparison used was the modified Robertson and Rendel method of Contemporary Comparison, CC [3,7]. Calculated were the following indices:

where:

RGV – Relative Genetic Value,
– average level of the trait for progeny,
– average level of the trait for peers,
– average value for the population,
h² – coefficient of heritability of the trait,
b – coefficient of regression,
w – the effective number of progeny.

where:

I – index for the stallion,
D_w – weighed mean deviation of the efficiency of progeny from the efficiency of peers.

3. WH = D_w · b

where:

Wh – breeding value.

The values of RGV and I are given in percent, whereas WH, as a real ascendancy of progeny over peers, is measured in units of an absolute value of a trait.

RESULTS

Separated were 38 stallions fulfilling the assumed requirements, who sired 586 heads of progeny. Numbers of their foal crops in the tested period varied from 5 heads (Balon, grey, 1979; Burkan, grey, 1964; Celebes, bay, 1949 and Mamluk, grey, 1970) to 65 ones (Probat, bay, 1975).

The coefficients of heritability (h²) for three basic dimensions in the tested population of purebred Arabian horses resulted as follows:

– for height in withers h² = 0.47;
– for circumference in girth h² = 0.23;
– for circumference in cannon h² = 0.25.

It shows, that in Arabian horses the trait of height in withers is highly heritable, whereas circumferences in girth and cannon are moderately heritable, i.e. – more dependable on environmental factors.

Regarding the trait of height in withers (Table 1), 20 stallions (52.63%) proved to be improvers (RGV and I higher than 100%, WH above 0.00). The highest Relative Genetic Value was shown by the stallion Wojsław, bay, 1986 (Tallin – Wilejka), whose RGV reached 157.86%. The same stallion achieved also the highest level of Index for that trait (I = 101.85%), as well as of the advantage of progeny over peers (WH = 1.40 cm). Second placed was the stallion Palas, grey, 1968 (Aswan – Panel), with his RGV = 148.43% and I = 101.11%, whereas his ascendancy of progeny over peers reached 0.83 cm. The lowest relative genetic value was shown by the progeny of Probat, bay,1975 (Pohaniec – Borexia), whose RGV reached 76.47%, I = 99.64%, whereas WH = -0.27 cm.

Table 1. Breeding value indicators of purebred Arabian stallions used in reproduction in the years 1983-2003, at Michałów Stud, for the trait “height in withers”

No.	Stallion	Number of progeny	Average height in withers for progeny	Number of peers	Average height in withers for peers	RGV	I	WH
1.	Aloes b. 1973	7	150.14	44	150.25	99.42	99.93	-0.05
2.	Arbil b. 1981	20	151.15	77	150.17	117.44	100.89	0.67
3.	Balon gr. 1979	5	151.80	77	150.17	104.04	100.84	0.63
4.	Bandos gr. 1964	13	148.92	79	150.04	88.21	99.11	-0.67
5.	Borek br. 1987	6	151.83	64	151.06	102.69	100.43	0.33
6.	Borysław ch. 1984	6	149.33	41	149.56	98.96	99.87	-0.09
7.	Burkan gr. 1964	5	150.60	47	150.55	100.09	100.02	0.02
8.	Celebes b. 1949	5	148.80	16	150.31	96.55	99.32	-0.51
9.	Ecaho gr. 1990	14	153.71	76	152.49	114.55	100.98	0.75
10.	Egon ch. 1986	5	151.20	130	151.93	98.41	99.62	-0.29
11.	El Paso b. 1967	13	150.46	104	150.63	98.20	99.86	-0.10
12.	Eldon gr. 1985	6	152.17	88	151.22	103.38	100.54	0.41
13.	Endel gr. 1981	14	150.50	193	150.89	95.48	99.67	-0.25
14.	Enrilo ch. 1981	7	150.43	47	150.02	101.52	100.24	0.18
15.	Eternit gr. 1976	7	148.43	57	150.84	89.89	98.55	-1.09
16.	Eufrat gr. 1970	8	150.50	78	150.64	99.26	99.91	-0.07
17.	Eukaliptus gr. 1974	44	150.43	391	150.66	88.70	99.74	-0.19
18.	Europejczyk b. 1982	6	148.67	33	150.27	94.76	99.14	-0.65
19.	Falsyfikat gr. 1984	9	149.67	77	150.17	96.74	99.66	-0.26
20.	Fanatyk b. 1978	8	150.63	42	149.55	105.08	100.68	0.51
21.	Fawor br. 1981	8	150.13	120	150.85	96.23	99.52	-0.36
22.	Gadir gr. 1977	9	151.44	77	150.17	107.69	100.88	0.66
23.	Gedymin gr. 1968	11	150.27	39	151.00	94.42	99.48	-0.39
24.	Grandorr gr. 1973	11	150.55	120	151.48	92.51	99.30	-0.53
25.	Mamluk gr. 1970	5	149.40	47	150.02	98.30	99.69	-0.23
26.	Monogramm ch. 1985	55	151.80	71	151.75	103.66	100.06	0.04
27.	Nabor gr. 1950	6	150.83	25	151.24	98.86	99.79	-0.16
28.	Negatiw gr. 1945	9	151.56	32	150.38	106.72	100.76	0.57
29.	Palas gr. 1968	44	151.05	278	150.05	148.43	101.11	0.83
30.	Pamir gr. 1984	22	151.36	154	150.77	112.43	100.56	0.42
31.	Partner gr. 1970	15	150.73	195	150.47	103.28	100.22	0,17
32.	Penitent gr. 1979	15	150.33	162	150.09	102.85	100.21	0.16
33.	Pepton gr. 1977	13	149.85	186	149.66	101.63	100.16	0.12
34.	Piechur gr. 1979	24	150.96	33	150.27	114.10	100.60	0.45
35.	Pesennik ch. 1979	7	150.29	47	150.02	100.94	100.16	0.12
36.	Probat b. 1975	65	149.92	226	150.23	76.47	99.64	-0.27
37.	Tallin b. 1978	28	150.68	163	150.18	113.90	100.51	0.38
38.	Wojsław b. 1986	31	153.03	172	151.23	157.86	101.85	1.40

As far, as the “circumference in girth” is concerned (Table 2), 24 stallions (63.16%) proved improvers with regards to that trait. The highest relative genetic value (RGV = 170.78%) was achieved by the stallion Monogramm, chest. 1985 (Negatraz – Monogramma), together with comparatively high levels of I (101.30%) as well, as WH (1.14 cm). The highest value of the Index was shown by Ecaho, grey, 1990 (Pepton – Etruria), whose I was 101.74%, together with a high RGV (123.98%) and WH (1.52). The narrowest in girth was the progeny of Piechur, grey, 1979 (Banat – Pierzeja) – RGV = 72.33%; I = 98.85%, WH = -1.01 cm; as well as of Tallin, bay, 1978 (Nabieg – Talantlivaya) – RGV = 74.89%, I = 99.10; and WH = -0.78 cm.

Table 2. Breeding value indicators of purebred Arabian stallions used in reproduction in the years 1983-2003, at Michałów Stud, for the trait “circumference in girth”

No.	Stallion	Number of progeny	Average circumference in girth for progeny	Number of peers	Average circumference in girth for peers	RGV	I	WH
1.	Aloes b. 1973	7	175.43	44	179.89	90.71	98.66	-1.20
2.	Arbil b. 1981	20	176.25	77	175.66	106.46	100.33	0.29
3.	Balon gr. 1979	5	174.40	77	175.66	98.36	99.68	-0.28
4.	Bandos gr. 1964	13	176.54	79	178.43	88.92	99.14	-0.77
5.	Borek br. 1987	6	174.50	64	174.52	99.83	99.99	-0.01
6.	Borysław ch. 1984	6	174.67	41	173.51	101.72	100.32	0.28
7.	Burkan gr. 1964	5	184.40	47	181.34	104.01	100.73	0.66
8.	Celebes b. 1949	5	185.40	16	179.69	106.25	101.20	1.08
9.	Ecaho gr. 1990	14	178.93	76	175.30	123.98	101.74	1.52
10.	Egon ch. 1986	5	176.60	130	176.58	100.03	100.01	0.00
11.	El Paso b. 1967	13	180.00	104	177.94	112.69	100.96	0.85
12.	Eldon gr. 1985	6	179.67	88	178.06	102.89	100.46	0.41
13.	Endel gr. 1981	14	175.64	193	175.12	103.49	100.26	0.23
14.	Enrilo ch. 1981	7	177.00	47	173.91	106.45	100.96	0.84
15.	Eternit gr. 1976	7	176.86	57	176.14	101.54	100.23	0.20
16.	Eufrat gr. 1970	8	180.25	78	180.21	100.40	100.01	0.01
17.	Eukaliptus gr. 1974	44	175.41	391	175.37	101.19	100.03	0.03
18.	Europejczyk b. 1982	6	174.33	33	175.67	97.79	99.64	-0.32
19.	Falsyfikat gr. 1984	9	174.33	77	175.66	95.45	99.50	-0.44
20.	Fanatyk b. 1978	8	174.75	42	174.90	99.48	99.95	-0.04
21.	Fawor br. 1981	8	178.38	120	176.68	104.84	100.60	0.53
22.	Gadir gr. 1977	9	176.44	77	175.66	102.54	100.29	0.26
23.	Gedymin gr. 1968	11	180.82	39	180.31	102.52	100.19	0.18
24.	Grandorr gr. 1973	11	179.45	120	176.73	112.92	101.17	1.04
25.	Mamluk gr. 1970	5	174.00	47	173.91	99.96	100.02	0.02
26.	Monogramm ch. 1985	55	176.64	171	175.05	170.78	101.30	1.14
27.	Nabor gr. 1950	6	182.83	25	180.52	103.81	100.58	0.53
28.	Negatiw gr. 1945	9	181.00	32	182.75	95.13	99.43	-0.52
29.	Palas gr. 1968	44	178.07	278	177.08	134.56	100.78	0.69
30.	Pamir gr. 1984	22	177.64	154	176.56	114.53	100.66	0.58
31.	Partner gr. 1970	15	175.73	195	177.04	89.83	99.32	-0.60
32.	Penitent gr. 1979	15	173.73	162	174.69	92.34	99.50	-0.44
33.	Pepton gr. 1977	13	173.31	186	175.56	85.78	98.91	-0.96
34.	Piechur gr. 1979	24	173.46	33	175.67	72.33	98.85	-1.01
35.	Pesennik ch. 1979	7	175.57	47	173.91	103.38	100.52	0.45
36.	Probat b. 1975	65	176.75	226	175.85	149.88	100.77	0.68
37.	Tallin b. 1978	28	173.46	163	174.78	74.89	99.10	-0.78
38.	Wojsław b. 1986	31	176.26	172	176.02	105.10	100.17	0.15

For the trait “circumference in cannon” (Table 3), as improvers acknowledged were 27 stallions (71.05%). Regarding that trait, the highest relative genetic value was achieved by Probat, bay, 1975 (Pohaniec – Borexia) – RGV = 253.13%, placed second according to the value of Index, I = 102.37%. The highest level of the Index and the real advantage of progeny over peers was shown by the stallion Ecaho, grey, 1990 (Pepton – Etruria) – I = 104.10%, WH = 0.37 cm. On the other hand, a decided degrader proved Tallin, bay, 1978 (Nabeg – Talantlivaia) – RGV = 7.56%, I = 96.68%, WH = -0.30 cm.

Table 3. Breeding value indicators of purebred Arabian stallions used in reproduction in the years 1983-2003, at Michałów Stud, for the trait “circumference in cannon”

No.	Stallion	Number of progeny	Average circumference in cannon for progeny	Number of peers	Average circumference in cannon for peers	RGV	I	WH
1.	Aloes b. 1973	7	17.86	44	18.38	88.64	98.38	-0.15
2.	Arbil b. 1981	20	18.54	77	18.25	132.52	101.63	0.15
3.	Balon gr. 1979	5	18.50	77	18.25	103.22	100.65	0.06
4.	Bandos gr. 1964	13	18.37	79	18.30	104.24	100.33	0.03
5.	Borek br. 1987	6	18.17	64	18.03	102.26	100.42	0.04
6.	Borysław ch. 1984	6	18.32	41	18.23	101.48	100.26	0.02
7.	Burkan gr. 1964	5	18.70	47	18.54	102.18	100.40	0.04
8.	Celebes b. 1949	5	18.20	16	18.69	94.79	98.94	-0.10
9.	Ecaho gr. 1990	14	18.91	76	18.07	156.37	104.10	0.37
10.	Egon ch. 1986	5	18.30	130	18.33	99.62	99.92	-0.01
11.	El Paso b. 1967	13	18.52	104	18.43	105.72	100.42	0.04
12.	Eldon gr. 1985	6	18.83	88	18.38	108.10	101.33	0.12
13.	Endel gr. 1981	14	18.10	193	18.13	97.65	99.85	-0.01
14.	Enrilo ch. 1981	7	18.44	47	18.15	106.29	100.92	0.08
15.	Eternit gr. 1976	7	18.53	57	18.34	104.30	100.61	0.06
16.	Eufrat gr. 1970	8	18.41	78	18.45	98.99	99.86	-0.01
17.	Eukaliptus gr. 1974	44	18.44	391	18.17	193.88	102.15	0.20
18.	Europejczyk b. 1982	6	18.17	33	18.30	97.84	99.64	-0.03
19.	Falsyfikat gr. 1984	9	18.14	77	18.25	96.17	99.58	-0.04
20.	Fanatyk b. 1978	8	18.26	42	18.13	103.37	100.44	0.04
21.	Fawor br. 1981	8	18.56	120	18.33	106.73	100.84	0.08
22.	Gadir gr. 1977	9	18.27	77	18.25	100.64	100.08	0.01
23.	Gedymin gr. 1968	11	18.64	39	18.49	106.75	100.59	0.05
24.	Grandorr gr. 1973	11	18.64	120	18.25	118.78	101.72	0.16
25.	Mamluk gr. 1970	5	18.40	47	18.15	103.07	100.64	0.06
26.	Monogramm ch. 1985	55	18.30	171	18.07	201.16	101.87	0.17
27.	Nabor gr. 1950	6	19.03	25	19.61	91.60	98.56	-0.14
28.	Negatiw gr. 1945	9	18.67	32	18.55	103.98	100.41	0.04
29.	Palas gr. 1968	44	18.64	278	18.29	220.64	102.74	0.25
30.	Pamir gr. 1984	22	18.29	154	18.35	91.97	99.63	-0.03
31.	Partner gr. 1970	15	18.35	195	18.31	103.17	100.21	0.02
32.	Penitent gr. 1979	15	18.35	162	18.13	117.01	101.16	0.11
33.	Pepton gr. 1977	13	18.27	186	18.22	103.08	100.25	0.02
34.	Piechur gr. 1979	24	18.10	33	18.30	74.77	98.95	-0.10
35.	Pesennik ch. 1979	7	18.36	47	18.15	104.52	100.67	0.06
36.	Probat b. 1975	65	18.48	226	18.20	253.13	102.37	0.22
37.	Tallin b. 1978	28	17.62	163	18.11	7.56	96.68	-0.30
38.	Wojsław b. 1986	31	18.29	172	18.25	108.54	100.28	0.03

DISCUSSION AND RESULTS

Genetic predisposition of a given individual, regarding quantitative traits, fall within a certain scope. To a high degree the expression of a gene (i.e. whether the animal achieves the upper or the lower limit of its possibilities) depends on feeding and raising conditions, especially for low and moderately heritable traits.

In the tested group of producers – sires to foal crops – distinguished themselves decided improvers, decided degraders or such stallions, who neither increased, nor decreased the results of progeny in relation to its peers. Found was a great variability of breeding value of the tested stallions, especially with regards to RGV, varying from 157.86 (Wojsław 1986) to –76.47 (Probat 1975) for the trait “height in withers”; from 170.78 (Monogramm 1985) to –72.33 (Piechur 1979) for the trait “circumference in girth”); from 253.13 (Probat 1975) to – 7.56 (Tallin 1978) for the trait “circu-mference in cannon”.

The level of such traits, as circumference in girth or in cannon, with coefficience of heritability reaching 0.25 (for girth) and 0.23 (for cannon), is more highly influenced by environmental factors. As far, as height in withers, a highly heritable trait, is concerned – the external factors have a lower meaning. Decided improvers with regard to height in withers proved Palas 1968 (WH = 1.40) and Wojs³aw 1986 (WH = 0.83), whereas decided degraders were Eternit 1976 (WH = -1.09) and Bandos 1964 (WH = -0.67). For Arabian horses the most desirable size shouldn’t exceed moderate levels, avoiding extreme values, so to reproduction should be selected partners complementing each other with regards to specified traits [5,6].

The trait of circumference in girth in progeny was increased to a highest degree by the stallions: Ecaho 1990 (WH = 1.52) and Monogramm 1985 (WH = 1.14), whereas degraders for that trait were Aloes 1973 (WH = -1.20) and Piechur 1979 (WH = -1.01). The greatest advantage over peers with regards to the circumference of cannon was shown by the progeny of above-mentioned Palas (WH = 0.25) and Ecaho (WH = 0.37), whereas decidedly lower was that dimension in the progeny of Tallin (WH = -0.30) and Aloes (WH = -0.15). Such stallions, as Palas 1968, Ecaho 1990 and Arbil 1981, were decided improvers with regards to all basic dimensions, whereas degraders with regards to all estimated traits were Aloes 1973, Bandos 1964, Falsyfikat 1984 and Europejczyk 1982. The stallion Europejczyk was also acknowledged as a degrader with regards to conformation traits, evaluated in Polish National nad Youth Arabian Horse Shows [4].

Summarizing, we can state, that stallions mostly show an advantage of progeny over its peers with regards to one of the basic dimensions. The knowledge of a stallion’s breeding value regarding specified biometrical traits may be, however, helpful in proper selection of mating partners, but it shouldn’t forejudge a stallion`s reproductive suitability.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed, that among the purebred Arabian stallions used at Michałów Stud, whose breeding value, with regards to the biometrical traits, was estimated in the tested period, the most positive results were obtained by such stallions, as Arbil 1981, Ecaho 1990, Eldon 1985, Gadir 1977, Palas 1968 and Wojsław 1986.
On the basis of the conducted research noted were also specific predispositions of certain stallions, concerning passing on specified traits.

REFERENCES

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Budzyński M., Chmiel K., Rudziński K., Sołtys L., 1988. Odziedziczalnosc wskazników biometrycznych w okresie wzrostu i rozwoju koni małopolskich [The heritability of biometrical indices during the growth and development phase of Małopolska horses]. Ann. UMCS, Sec. EE, Vol. VI, 14, 103-107 [in Polish].

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Sobczuk D., 2004. Ocena wartosci hodowlanej ogierów czołowych czystej krwi arabskiej na podstawie wskazników biometrycznych [The estimation of breeding value of purebred Arabian leading sires based on their biometrical indices]. Rocz. Nauk. Zootech., 31(2), 173--180 [in Polish].

Zawadzka I., Budzyński M., Chmiel K., 2001. Program hodowli koni rasy czystej krwi arabskiej. Maszynopis opracowany na zlecenie Ministerstwa Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi [The program of breeding purebred Arabian horses. A typewritten text elaborated on request of the Ministry of Agriculture] [in Polish].

Accepted for print: 29.01.2007

Dorota Sobczuk
Department of Animal Breeding and Use,
Faculty of Agricultural Science,
University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
Szczebrzeska 102, 22-400 Zamość, Poland
Phone: (+48 084) 677 27 73
email: dorotasobczuk@wnr.edu.pl

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