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Discussion on Growing incidence of developmental problems in foals
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2005 - 10:37 am:
There was a significant increase in the percentage of horses with osseous fragments in hocks during the study period of the report below. The researchers conclude there is a need to act against the high prevalence of osseous fragments in the limb joints of young Warmblood riding horses.
J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2005 Oct;52(8):388-94.
Prevalence of osseous fragments in distal and proximal interphalangeal, metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal and tarsocrural joints of hanoverian warmblood horses.
Stock KF, Hamann H, Distl O.
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Bunteweg 17p, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
In what is the best study on this condition the prevalence of bony fragments in different limb joints was analysed in 3749 young Warmblood riding horses, which were pre-selected for sale at auction from 1991 to 1998 by the Association of Hanoverian Warmblood Breeders (Verband hannoverscher Warmblutzuchter e.V.) in Verden (Aller), Germany. In 32% of all horses at least one osseous fragment was found on these radiographs. The hock was affected in 9.6% of the horses and the ankle in 20.7%. The coffin and pastern joints were effected less with percentage of horses affected 4.5% and 0.9% respectively. Depending on the joint type, osseous fragments were found in analogous joints in the front and the hind limbs in up to 26% of the affected horses, whilst bilateral affection occurred in between 10% and 46% of the horses. Distribution of osseous fragments in the limb joints investigated here did not differ significantly between male and female horses.
Well no sooner had I put up the above post that I ran across a complementary study to the one above. Apparently sires were graded by their lesions and selected for breeding based on it and compared to those stallions that were selected solely based on performance. Not surprisly the foals to sires selected for clean joints had a lower incidence of osseous fragments than those that were not.
DrO
Am J Vet Res. 2005 Aug;66(8):1371-9.
Evaluation of expected response to selection for orthopedic health and performance traits in Hanoverian Warmblood horses.
Stock KF, Distl O.
Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Bunteweg 17p, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether selection schemes accounting for orthopedic health traits were compatible with breeding progress in performance parameters in Hanoverian Warmblood horses. ANIMALS: 5,928 horses. PROCEDURE: Relative breeding values (RBVs) were predicted for osseous fragments in fetlock (metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal) and tarsal joints, deforming arthropathy in tarsal joints, and pathologic changes in distal sesamoid bones. Selection schemes were developed on the basis of total indices for radiographic findings (TIR), dressage (TID), and jumping (TIJ). Response to selection was traced over 2 generations of horses for dressage and jumping ability and all-purpose breeding. Development of mean RBVs and mean total indices in sires and prevalences of orthopedic health traits in their offspring were used to assess response to selection. RESULTS: Giving equal weight toTIR andTID, TIJ, or a combined index of 60% TID and 40% TIJ, 43% to 53% of paternal grandsires and 70% to 82% of descending sires passed selection. In each case, RBVs and total indices increased by as much as 9% in selected sires, when compared with all sires, and prevalences of orthopedic health traits in offspring of selected sires decreased relatively by as much as 16%. When selection was exclusively based on TID, TIJ, or TID and TIJ, percentages of selected sires were 44% to 66% in the first and 73% to 84% in the second generation and TID and TIJ increased by 9% to 10% and 19% to 23%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with exclusively performance-based selection, percentages of selected sires changed slightly and breeding progress in TID, TIJ, or TID and TIJ was only slightly decreased; however, prevalences of orthopedic health traits decreased in offspring of TIR-selected sires.
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2005 - 4:03 pm:
Ouch, my brain hurts. 
But hey! Its great to see people focusing on soundness issues not just performance and gaits. I wonder if that data is available to all prospective breeders.
Next, maybe there will be a study addressing hoof quality and soundness. Of course that is not as easily quantified, with the effect of hoof care and shoeing.
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