BREEDING VALUE OF STALLIONS – SIRES OF HALF-BRED HORSES TESTED FOR RACING PERFORMANCE AT THE WROCŁAW HORSE-RACING TRACK

Henryk Geringer de Oedenberg, Maciej Dobrowolski, Anna Górecka, Ewa Guzik, Elżbieta Gorajewska
Institute of Animal Breeding, Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrianism, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland

ABSTRACT

The breeding values of 58 stallions were evaluated using their progeny performance test results. The tests had been carried out at the Wrocław Partynice Horse Racing Track. Racing careers and pedigrees of 530 horses running in 1999–2005 were analysed. The racing performance was measured according to individual success indices and career earnings of the progeny. The model included the following factors: sex, breed, trainer, season, and number of starts. English Thoroughbred stallions, followed by Małopolski stallions, achieved the highest breeding values.

Key words: breeding value, half-bred horses, racing performance.

INTRODUCTION

The racing-track performance test of half-bred horses represents an alternative to obtaining a license or the right to enter the studbook. The test helps in selection of sound, mentally strong horses, fully suitable for an equestrian sport discipline. The ability to transfer the desirable traits to the progeny is a measure of success in the breed improvement efforts. Racing performance is a measurable phenotypic trait allowing estimation of the breeding value of a horse. Besides the genotype, many environmental factors influence this particular trait [5]. Thus, performance evaluation of the horses forms the ground for breeding value assessment and, in consequence, for future selection work aimed at an improvement of the population of sport horses.

Over the last 10–20 years, the BLUP model, coupled with a sire model or an animal model, has been recognized as the best method of breeding value estimation, producing information on the assessed animals, their dams, and their sires [6]. An application of this method has been attempted by Kaproń et al. [5], who analysed the conformation traits of improved half-bred horses. In relation to racing performance of half-bred horses, the single-trait BLUP model variant has been used so far [1]. The are reports in the world literature dealing with the breeding value of horses tested for racing performance [2,10]; those studies have focused on half-bred horses participating in steeplechasing in France. A number of authors have also studied estimation of the breeding value of various breeds stallions used in half-bred horse breeding in Poland [4,8,9]. However, up-to-date reports on half-bred horses undergoing racing performance tests are missing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate sire breeding value based on the performance of the progeny tested in racing performance trials at the Wrocław Horse Racing Track during 1999–2005, as well as to evaluate the breeding value of particular horses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study comprised a group of 530 half-bred horses tested for racing performance at the Partynice Horse Racing Track. The analyses included 3-year old horses running flat races in the years 1999–2005 over a distance of 1600 to 2400 meters. The horses originated from 12 State Stud Farms, as well as from private farms. The following breeds were represented: Wielkopolski, Małopolski, Polish improved half-bred horse, and Anglo-Arabian. We have evaluated the breeding value of sire stallions born between 1973 and 1995.

Statistical analysis of the collected data was carried out by means of the GLM procedure of the SAS package (SAS 2000). Career earnings (CE) and individual success indices (SI) represented the measures of performance. The data were log-transformed.

The individual success index (SI) was calculated on the number of starts and career earnings, according to the following formula:

where:

season's earnings by the given horse,

x_a mean for the age group (the sum of earnings of all the horses of the same age divided by the number of horses at this age).

The index representing the breeding value (BV) was estimated by the BLUP animal model using the PEST v 4.2 program authored by Groeneveld (1999):

where:
y – vector of phenotypic traits (CE of the progeny and SI of the progeny),
µ – population's mean,
a – vector of constant effects (sex, breed, trainer, season, number of starts),
p – vector of random effects (individual, sire, dam),
X – matrix of constant effects,
Z – matrices of random effects,
e – vector of the individual-specific effects.

The correlations between the breeding value and performance, as well as those between the rankings of estimated breeding values based on the two criteria, were calculated using the Pearson coefficient of correlation (SAS 2000).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 presents the ranking of the breeding values of sire-stallions, as well as the parameters of their progeny racing performance. Breeding value estimated on a small number of progeny is not a reliable parameter [5,12]. Depending on the size of the studied population, authors have addressed the number of 5 [4], 6 [11], or, most often, 7 descendants [3,12] as the required minimum. Due to a small size of the available population, we have analysed those of the stallions only that had had at least 2 descendants.

Table 1. Stallions of the highest breeding value estimated from racing performance of the progeny

No.	Stallion	Breed	Year of birth	Sire	Dam	No. of progeny	Succes Index (SI)	BV/SI	Rank/SI	Career Earnings (CE)	BV/CE	Rank/CE
2	Dzielżan	xx	1994	Saphir	Dostawa	13	1.939	1.405	2	119400	5954	4
3	Oregon	xx	1986	Dakota	Oseina	6	2.608	1.376	3	67565	13205	1
4	Lap Bej	m	1988	Elsing	Laponia	7	2.609	1.270	4	85390	10658	2
5	Sanhedryn	xx	1992	Winds of Light	Salome	3	2.467	0.959	5	34540	4711	5
6	Milione	xx	1983	Try my best	Artistry	3	2.430	0.829	6	34700	3428	8
7	Emetyt	m	1987	Kwartet	Emerycha	3	2.379	0.811	7	29586	3450	7
8	Dukat	m	1978	Dialog	Mimi	4	0.164	0.795	8	3040	3499	6
9	All hands on deck	xx	1982	Topsider	Aware	3	2.443	0.781	9	36440	3337	9
10	Cynik	xx	1974	Saragan	Cydonia	7	1.768	0.673	10	59250	3228	11
11	Arnold	m	1992	Laryks	Arkona	3	2.431	0.669	11	24290	3287	10
12	Sir Laryks	m	1991	Laryks	Selekcja	13	1.319	0.585	12	82960	2844	12
13	Arcuss	xx	1978	Cross	Arcada	6	1.396	0.513	13	40610	2372	14
14	Kwartet	m	1982	Arlequin	Balise	26	1.401	0.430	14	162040	2393	13
15	Tioman Island	xx	1990	Midyan	Catch the sun	2	1.843	0.323	15	18800	1886	15
16	Desant	xx	1986	Parysow	Dostawa	3	1.253	0.322	16	17080	1879	16
17	Omen	xx	1984	Dakota	Ombra	2	1.843	0.270	17	16812	1049	21
18	Empik	xx	1983	Parysów	Ea	7	1.143	0.264	18	34892	1298	17
19	Huncwot	xx	1983	Conor Pass	Huanita	2	1.476	0.258	19	12328	1145	20
20	Veritas	m	1982	Vidoc	Isis D'or	5	1.319	0.250	20	32420	701	23
21	Sterowiec	xx	1986	Parysów	Szelma	5	5.050	0.249	21	20806	1212	18
22	Irak	m	1990	Hippies	Irena	4	1.605	0.243	22	26454	1175	19
23	Wiedeń	oo	1982	Palas	Wieża	2	1.435	0.242	23	13460	203	29
24	First desTermes	m	1993	Fol Avril	Etoile Estivale	37	1.095	0.202	24	200200	667	24
25	Len	m	1073	Jongleur	Leniwka	2	1.131	0.161	25	9325	753	22
26	Escudo	wlkp	1990	Dido	Etiuda	2	1.095	0.122	26	10200	550	26
27	Mooving dream	xx	1984	Northfields	Milloletta	2	1.396	0.083	27	12368	619	25
28	Jarabub	xx	1977	Mehari	Jasiolka	4	0.915	0.066	28	16879	339	28
29	Mangan	xx	1981	Dakota	Mangalia	2	0.654	0.048	29	5656	438	27
30	Askar	m	1987	Kwartet	Arsena	7	1.079	0.034	30	36360	72	30
31	Lais	sp	1993	Guidam	Venaiz	6	0.993	-0.02	31	28970	-32	31
32	Toledo	xx	1987	Fappiano	Visual emotion	17	1.109	-0.02	32	87450	-69	32
33	Glimmerman	xx	1989	Glow	Peacehaven	10	0.898	-0.08	33	44580	-715	35
34	Lando	hol	1991	Ladnadel	Piaffe	6	0.616	-0.1	34	18195	-245	33
35	Decoration	m	1985	Matcho	Dunka	5	1.049	-0.126	35	24190	-779	36
36	Bonaparte	m	1989	Pick Wick	Bona	3	0.652	-0.131	36	9170	-1340	42
37	Milczan	m	1995	Lap bej	Milanda	4	0.743	-0.146	37	14160	-1303	41
38	Dixieland	xx	1977	Conor Pass	Dostojna	2	1.051	-0.164	38	8660	-1066	40
39	Campetot	m	1981	Cafettot	Campanule	3	0.914	-0.173	39	6460	-1012	39
40	Louis	hol	1988	Landgraf	Osette	6	0.537	-0.2	40	14239	-933	37
41	Berlin Bej	m	1994	Elsing	Berenika	3	0.523	-0.218	41	7410	-1574	47
42	Czyniec	wlkp.	1989	Czyżówka	Sir Schostakovicz	4	0.838	-0.226	42	15980	-510	34
43	Banita	m	1992	Arcus	Banicja	10	0.791	-0.249	43	36680	-1454	44
44	Emir	m	1993	Arcyksiąże	Emerycha	5	0.709	-0.279	44	18040	-1431	43
45	Moabit	xx	1985	Beauvallon	Majorka	4	0.663	-0.279	45	10930	-1525	45
46	Divisor	xx	1995	Revlon Boy	Discorsa	9	0.834	-0.289	46	34680	-943	38
47	Cantal	hol.	1995	Cantus	Ferline	3	0.292	-0.304	47	4180	-1861	50
48	Freedom's Choice	xx	1982	Forli	Full of Hope	11	0.551	-0.317	48	28040	-1954	51
49	Sebastian	m	1993	Arcus	Selekcja	10	0.795	-0.366	49	39580	-2196	53
50	Grey	m	1984	Cynik	Grecja	9	0.858	-0.397	50	35404	-1571	46
51	Wolver Heights	xx	1978	Wolver Hollow	Mariska	6	0.958	-0.399	51	24982	-2435	54
52	Leandro	hol	1989	Lenz	Padua	5	0.031	-0.411	52	760	-1972	52
53	Czynel	xx	1995	Club House	Czilla	8	0.763	-0.438	53	28730	-1750	48
54	Elektor	wlkp.	1989	Cynik	Enklawa	3	0.275	-0.496	54	3870	-1845	49
55	Graf Quidam	sp	1995	Quidam de Ravel	Grafia	14	0.581	-0.61	55	38320	-2732	55
56	Galeon	oo	1983	Pepi	Gameta	5	0.418	-0.689	56	10295	-3241	57
57	Judex	xx	1977	Mehari	Jurysdykcja	8	0.461	-0.747	57	14044	-2899	56
58	Montevideo	hol	1994	Ahorn	Ulysse rouge	9	0.156	-0.831	58	7030	-3777	58

BV/SI – breeding value based on success index, Rank/SI – position in the BV ranking based on SI, BV/CE – breeding value based on career earnings, Rank/CE – position in the BV ranking based on CE.

In all, we have estimated the breeding values of 58 stallions, the sires of 2 to 37 descendants, which altogether forms a group of 383 horses. Such a data structure is characteristic for the horse as a species [5], particularly for horses tested for racing performance [1,12].

The detailed analysis included the racing records of descendants of 26 Thoroughbred stallions, 20 Małopolski stallions, 2 Polish improved half-bred Stallions, 3 Wielkopolski stallions, 5 Holstein stallions, and 2 Arab stallions. The breeding values of the sires based on SI ranged from +1.665 to –0.831, while those based on career earnings ranged between +13 205 and –3777. An analysis of the rankings of the breeding values estimated on the two criteria reveals considerable similarities, confirmed with a Pearson coefficient of correlation of 0.941. Also correlations between the average performance of the progeny and the sire's breeding value were 0.68 for SI and 0.442 for CE. This result confirms the rationale behind estimations of stallions breeding value based on a progeny performance index in the form of career earnings and SI.

Within the studied group, 30 stallions exhibited positive breeding values, form +1.665 to +0.034, for SI, and from +13 205 to +70, for CE. The breeding values of the remaining 28 stallions-sires were negative. An interesting fact is that the sires that are used to improve Poland's herd of sport horses, Thoroughbred and Małopolski stallions, take the lead in the ranking. Bek-Kaczkowska and Chudoba [1] obtained similar results on a population of horses racing during 1988–1998.

The highest breeding value (SI = +1.665) was achieved by the stallion Chef Supreme xx, whose progeny was characterised by outstanding average indices of racing performance (SI = 2.22 and CE = 105 213). Chef Supreme xx, as a racing horse, did not achieve much success [13]. The horse had sired Thoroughbred horses, although not successfully either; therefore, from 2001, it was used in breeding half-bred horses. Oregon xx proved to be a sire of the highest breeding value based on career earnings (+13 205). As an excellent racing horse, the stallion proved its merit as a very good sire of sport horses [9]. The best stallions in terms of racing performance had been obtained from sires classified at positions 1 to 32 in the breeding value ranking (Table 2).

Table 2. Half-bred horses with the highest breeding values estimated from their own performance and that of all available collateral relatives

No.	Horse	Sire	Sex	Breed	Season	Career earnings	Success index	Mean career earnings	SD	WH BV
1	Tulka	Lap Bej młp	mare	m	2004	53200	11.53	8866.6	9433.2	4.798
2	Widawa	Dzielżan xx	mare	m	2003	46880	9.84	9376	10652.2	4.300
3	Chwała	Kwartet młp	mare	m	2001	47500	9.60	7916.6	10140.7	3.543
4	Mirage	Toledo xx	stallion	m	2005	45000	9.74	7500	9889.5	3.308
5	Assaka	Oregon xx	mare	m	1999	31470	7.63	6294	8731	3.177
6	Asyria	Cynik xx	mare	m	2000	33120	7.06	5520	8932.3	2.713
7	Armilla	Cynik xx	mare	m	2001	21000	4.24	2625	3235.5	2.572
8	Watford	First des Termes młp	stallion	m	2002	33780	6.62	6756	10791.6	2.561
9	Dominikana	Emetyt młp	mare	m	1999	22090	5.36	4418	4716.2	2.194
10	Czarusia	Chef Supreme xx	mare	wlkp	2002	25320	4.96	4220	5122.6	2.035
11	Roksana	All Hands on Deck xx	mare	m	2004	22680	4.91	3780	3745.6	1.791
12	Dacja	Chef Supreme xx	mare	m	2005	19730	4.27	2466.2	4836.2	1.761
13	Jaxa	Arnold młp	mare	m	2000	17800	3.79	5955	6123.1	1.719
14	Wicher I	Chef Supreme xx	stallion	m	2005	17280	3.74	3456	3963	1.666
15	Major WM	Sanhedryn xx	stallion	sp	2004	17200	3.73	5733.3	5262.4	1.644

Among the half-bred sires, the following stallions are noteworthy: Jarabub xx, Omen xx, Kwartet m, Cynik xx, and Emetyt m; the horses achieved high breeding values both as very good sires of racing horses and successful sport horses [1,4,9]. The stallion Lap Bej m has proved its ability to transfer the racing traits to its progeny, since the horse achieved a very high breeding value both in the presented study and in the studies by Bek-Kaczkowska and Chudoba [1].

The group of stallions with negative breeding values includes Holstein and improved half-bred horses of merit to the equestrian sport, Graf Quidam, Louis, Lando, Cantal, and Lais. Table 2 presents the progeny tested for performance and breeding value. Those of high performance also achieved the top breeding values. It should be stressed, however, that the number of starts as well as the kinship structure of the animals were both too low, thus these results are of informative value only.

CONCLUSIONS

1. In the studied population, the Thoroughbred and Małopolski stallions exhibited the best ability to transfer the racing performance traits to the progeny.
2. Chef Supreme xx (by Chief's Crown out of Par Excellance by L'enjoleur), born in 1989, and Oregon xx (by Dakota out of Oseina by Mehari), born in 1986, proved the best half-bred sires in the analysed period.
3. All the Holstein and Polish improved half-bred sires obtained negative breeding values.
4. Both SI and career earnings proved very good indices of breeding value for half-bred horses used on racing tracks.

REFERENCES

1. Bek-Kaczkowska I., Chudoba K., 2000. Szacowanie wartości hodowlanej koni półkrwi poddawanych wyścigowym próbom dzielności [Estimation the breeding value of half-bred horses tested for racing perfomance]. Folia Univ. Agric. Stetin., Zootechnica, 212 (40), 69-84 [in Polish].

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3. Chrzanowski S., Koebcke K., 1993. The estimation of breeding value of Thoroughbred horses on the basis of racing performance of their progeny at the age 2 and 3 years. Ann. Wars. Agric. Univ., Anim. Sci. 29, 35-39.

4. 4. Geringer H., Olczyk A., Kiełbasiewicz A., 2003. Wartość hodowlana ogierów ocenianych na podstawie potomstwa startującego w dyscyplinie skoków przez przeszkody w latach 1990-2000 [Breeding value of stallions evaluated using their progeny starting in show jumping in the years 1990-2000]. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 68 (5) 101-107 [in Polish].

5. Kaproń M., 1999. Metody doskonalenia koni [Methods of horse improvement]. Wyd. AR Lublin [in Polish].

6. Kaproń M., Zięba G., Kaproń B., 2000. Próba zastosowania metody BLUP Animal Model w ocenie wartości hodowlanej koni szlachetnych półkrwi w zakresie cech pokrojowych [An attempt to apply the BLUP Animal Model to evaluate the breeding value of improved half-bred horses in the scope of conformation]. Folia Univ. Agric. Stetin., Zootechnica, 212 (40), 55-62 [in Polish].

7. Kaproń M., Zięba G., Czerniak E., Kaproń B., Ruciński M., 2001. Próba zastosowania metody BLUP Animal Model w hodowlanej ocenie cech użytkowych ogierów półkrwi trenowanych w Zakładach Treningowych w latach 1993–1996 [An attempt to apply the BLUP Animal Model in the breeding evaluation of the performance of half-bred stallions trained at the Training Centres during 1993-1996]. Rocz. Nauk. Zootech., Supl., 14, 143-155 [in Polish].

8. Kaproń M., Zięba G., Czerniak E., 2003. Próba zastosowania metody BLUP – model ojcowski do oceny wartości hodowlanej ogierów półkrwi [An attempt to apply the BLUP – sire model to evaluate the breeding value of half-bred stallions]. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 68 (5), 143-149 [in Polish].

9. Kiełbasiewicz A., 2007. Wartość użytkowa i hodowlana polskich koni sportowych startujących w dyscyplinie ujeżdżenia i WKKW w latach 1980-2004 [Performance and breeding value of Polish sport horses starting in dressage and eventing during 1980-2004. Doctoral dissertation]. PhD Thesis. AR Wrocław [in Polish].

10. Langlois B, Blouin C., 2004. Practical efficiency of breeding value estimations based on annual earnings of horses for jumping, trotting, and galloping races in France. Livest. Prod. Sci. 87, 99-107.

11. Łojek J., Chrzanowski S., Szczepaniak A., 2000. Ocena wartości hodowlanej reproduktorów na podstawie wyników potomstwa startującego w konkursach skoków przez przeszkody w latach 1981-1996 [Estimation of sire breeding value based on performance of the progeny starting in show jumping during 1981-1996]. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 50, 87-92 [in Polish].

12. Misař D., Jiskrová I. J. Přibyl J., 2000. Estimation of breeding value of English thoroughbred sires in the Czech Reublic. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 45, 201-208.

13. Świdziński J., Wiszowaty K., 2004. Ogiery pełnej krwi angielskiej w polskiej hodowli w latach 1982-2002 [Thoroughbred stallions in Polish horse-breeding during 1982-2002]. Wyd. DTSK Silesia, Wrocław [in Polish].

Accepted for print: 12.09.2008

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Henryk Geringer de Oedenberg
Institute of Animal Breeding,
Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrianism,
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
Kożuchowska 5a, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
email: hengen@ozi.ar.wroc.pl

Maciej Dobrowolski
Institute of Animal Breeding,
Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrianism,
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
Kożuchowska 5a, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland

Anna Górecka
Institute of Animal Breeding,
Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrianism,
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
Kożuchowska 5a, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland

Ewa Guzik
Institute of Animal Breeding,
Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrianism,
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
Kożuchowska 5a, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland

Elżbieta Gorajewska
Institute of Animal Breeding,
Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrianism,
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
Kożuchowska 5 a, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland

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