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Draught Horses (draught + horse)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%
Life Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Genetic diversity in German draught horse breeds compared with a group of primitive, riding and wild horses by means of microsatellite DNA markers

ANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 4 2004
K. S. Aberle
Summary We compared the genetic diversity and distance among six German draught horse breeds to wild (Przewalski's Horse), primitive (Icelandic Horse, Sorraia Horse, Exmoor Pony) or riding horse breeds (Hanoverian Warmblood, Arabian) by means of genotypic information from 30 microsatellite loci. The draught horse breeds included the South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Mecklenburg Coldblood, Saxon Thuringa Coldblood, Black Forest Horse and Schleswig Draught Horse. Despite large differences in population sizes, the average observed heterozygosity (Ho) differed little among the heavy horse breeds (0.64,0.71), but was considerably lower than in the Hanoverian Warmblood or Icelandic Horse population. The mean number of alleles (NA) decreased more markedly with declining population sizes of German draught horse breeds (5.2,6.3) but did not reach the values of Hanoverian Warmblood (NA = 6.7). The coefficient of differentiation among the heavy horse breeds showed 11.6% of the diversity between the heavy horse breeds, as opposed to 21.2% between the other horse populations. The differentiation test revealed highly significant genetic differences among all draught horse breeds except the Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldbloods. The Schleswig Draught Horse was the most distinct draught horse breed. In conclusion, the study demonstrated a clear distinction among the German draught horse breeds and even among breeds with a very short history of divergence like Rhenish German Draught Horse and its East German subpopulations Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldblood. [source]

Pedigree analysis in the Austrian Noriker draught horse: genetic diversity and the impact of breeding for coat colour on population structure

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 5 2009
T. Druml
Summary The pedigree of the current Austrian Noriker draught horse population comprising 2808 horses was traced back to the animals considered as founders of this breed. In total, the number of founders was 1991, the maximum pedigree length was 31 generations, with an average of 12.3 complete generations. Population structure in this autochthonous Austrian draught horse breed is defined by seven breeding regions (Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg) or through six coat colour groups (Bay, Black, Chestnut, Roan, Leopard, Tobiano). Average inbreeding coefficients within the breeding regions ranged from 4.5% to 5.5%; for the colour groups, the coefficients varied from 3.5% to 5.9%. Other measures of genetic variability like the effective number of founders, ancestors and founder genomes revealed a slightly different genetic background of the subpopulations. Average coancestries between and within breeding areas showed that the Salzburg population may be considered as the nucleus or original stock whereas all other subpopulations showed high relationship to horses from Salzburg. The target of draught horse breeding in the 21st century does not meet the breeding concept of maximizing genetic gains any more. Stabilizing selection takes place. In this study, we show that demographic factors as well as structure given by different coat colours helped to maintain genetic diversity in this endangered horse breed. [source]

Lymphoscintigraphy of draught horses with chronic progressive lymphoedema

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2006
H. E. V. De Cock
Summary Reasons for performing study: Early diagnosis of chronic progressive lymphoedema (CPL) may result in more effective interventions and provide a basis for further investigation of whether early diagnosis could be used as a means of eliminating potential genetic influences by cessation of breeding from affected individuals. Hypothesis: Lymphoscintigraphy may be useful in draught horses to differentiate early lesions of CPL from other conditions in the pastern region. Methods: Forelimbs of 2 normal and 5 CPL-affected draught horses were evaluated with lymphoscintigraphy. Results: Lymphoscintigraphy showed clearly the presence of interstitial fluid stasis and delayed lymphatic drainage in the affected extremities of diseased animals in contrast to normal animals of these breeds. The rate of decreased clearance of a particulate radiopharmaceutical from the tissues was related positively to the severity of clinical signs. Conclusions and potential relevance: Our findings support the hypothesis that lymph stasis is probably responsible for the progressive swelling and concurrent skin lesions observed in association with CPL in draught horses. Lymphoscintigraphy should also prove useful in diagnosis of CPL in draught horses, even in the mild stages of the disease; such early diagnosis may result in more effective intervention. [source]

The course of some bone remodelling plasma metabolites in healthy horses and in horses offered a calcium-deficient diet

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3-4 2003
V. De Behr
Summary An inquiry was carried out to assess the concentrations of plasma metabolites related to bone remodelling in 21 saddle horses of Warmblood breed aged 4,26 years, five draught horses of Ardennes breed aged 4,10 years, and 10 Ardennes foals aged 9,11 months. They were fed according to normal feeding practice in Belgium. The changes in some bone remodelling plasma metabolite concentrations were studied when an unbalanced diet was offered and later corrected for four Warmblood horses. Bone formation was evaluated by bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and osteocalcin (bone gla-protein, OC). Bone resorption was assessed by hydroxyproline (HYP). Total calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus (P) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH)D] concentrations were more or less constant. The comparison of four bone remodelling factors between the Ardennes and Warmblood horses showed higher concentrations in the Ardennes breed. Bone marker concentrations decreased according to age. The correction of the unbalanced Ca : P diet induced inconsistent effects at plasma level. The interpretation of the different bone parameters appeared to be difficult if not associated with other parameters such as a complete anamnesis and clinical examination of the animal in addition to dietary evaluation. Zusammenfassung Verlauf verschiedener Knochenmarker bei gesunden Pferden und bei Pferden, welche mit einer in Bezug auf Kalzium unausgewogenen Ration gefüttert wurden Eine Studie zur Erfassung der Konzentrationen von Knochenmarkern wurde bei 21 Warmblütern im Alter von 4 bis 26 Jahren, fünf Ardenner Kaltblütern im Alter von 4 bis 10 Jahren und 10 Ardenner Kaltblutfohlen im Alter von 9 bis 11 Monaten durchgeführt. Die Pferde wurden gemäss der normalen Fütterungpraxis in Belgien gefüttert. Der Verlauf der Knochenmarkerkonzentrationen wurde auch bei vier Pferden gemessen, die zunächst mit einer unausgewogenen Ration in Bezug auf Kalzium und dann mit einer korrigierenden Ration gefüttert wurden. Der Knochenaufbau wurde anhand der Aktivität der knochenspezifischen alkalischen Phosphatase (BALP), der totalen alkalischen Phosphatasen (TALP) und anhand des Osteocalcin (bone gla-proteine, OC) gemessen. Der Knochenabbau wurde anhand des Hydroxyprolins (HYP) gemessen. Die Konzentrationen des totalen Kalziums, ionisierten Kalziums, Phosphors (P), und 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] waren unverändert. Beim Vergleich der vier gemessenen Knochenmakerkonzentrationen bei den Ardenner Kaltblütern mit den Warmblutpferden konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Kaltblüter deutlich höhere Konzentrationen hatten als die Warmblüter. Die Konzentrationen der Marker nahmen mit steigendem Alter der Pferde ab. Die Korrektur der unausgewogenen Ca:P Ration ergab nicht eindeutige Veränderungen der Plasmakonzentrationen der verschiedenen Marker. Die Interpretation der verschiedenen Knochenmarker erscheint schwierig, wenn nicht andere Parameter, wie eine komplette Anamnese und eine klinische Untersuchung, sowie eine Auswertung der Ration hinzugezogen werden. [source]

A GYS1 gene mutation is highly associated with polysaccharide storage myopathy in Cob Normand draught horses

ANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2009
B. Herszberg
Summary Glycogen storage diseases or glycogenoses are inherited diseases caused by abnormalities of enzymes that regulate the synthesis or degradation of glycogen. Deleterious mutations in many genes of the glyco(geno)lytic or the glycogenesis pathways can potentially cause a glycogenosis, and currently mutations in fourteen different genes are known to cause animal or human glycogenoses, resulting in myopathies and/or hepatic disorders. The genetic bases of two forms of glycogenosis are currently known in horses. A fatal neonatal polysystemic type IV glycogenosis, inherited recessively in affected Quarter Horse foals, is due to a mutation in the glycogen branching enzyme gene (GBE1). A second type of glycogenosis, termed polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), is observed in adult Quarter Horses and other breeds. A severe form of PSSM also occurs in draught horses. A mutation in the skeletal muscle glycogen synthase gene (GYS1) was recently reported to be highly associated with PSSM in Quarter Horses and Belgian draught horses. This GYS1 point mutation appears to cause a gain-of-function of the enzyme and to result in the accumulation of a glycogen-like, less-branched polysaccharide in skeletal muscle. It is inherited as a dominant trait. The aim of this work was to test for possible associations between genetic polymorphisms in four candidate genes of the glycogen pathway or the GYS1 mutation in Cob Normand draught horses diagnosed with PSSM by muscle biopsy. [source]