toggle visibility Search & Display Options

Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print
  Records Links
Author Dubois, C.; Ricard, A. doi  openurl
  Title Efficiency of past selection of the French Sport Horse: Selle Francais breed and suggestions for the future Type Journal Article
  Year 2007 Publication Livestock Science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 112 Issue 1-2 Pages 161-171  
  Keywords Horse; Genetic trend; Selection; Jumping  
  Abstract Parameters of genetic trend of Selle Francais (SF) horse breed were studied from 1974 to 2002 and detailed since 1991 because historical BLUP animal model genetic evaluation for jumping competition was available since 1989. During this period, annual births varied from 6000 to 10,000. The annual genetic trend for show jumping was 0.055 of genetic standard deviation between 1985 and 1995 and 0.096 since 1995 without unfavourable trend for dressage (ΔG = + 0.002) and eventing (ΔG = + 0.011). The three parameters of genetic trend: the selection intensity (i = 1.95 for males, 0.48 for females), the accuracy (r = 0.66 for males, 0.60 for females), and the generation interval (L = 12.0 years for males, 11.5 for females) explained this result. Particularities were: a higher number of progeny for best sires which induced true selection intensity equal to 2.21, a new and important selection on progeny (46% births form sires tested on progeny between 2000 and 2002), a high rate of own performance test in competition for mares (45%) which induced high accuracy of mare pathway. However, demographic possibilities were not reached, the possible selection rate for male (1.5%) and females (49%) should increase genetic gain + 14% and + 11% respectively. The generation interval was too long: a better selection at first stage for males, with equal rapid test on progeny and a shorter period of reproduction, i.e. a higher number of foals per sire, should decrease the relative importance of progeny test and should decrease generation interval. The drop of mares aged more than 10 at first progeny should decrease 1.2 year generation interval without loss on accuracy. If breeders keep the same structure (test of stallion and majority of mares on their own performance), they could add new criteria (conformation, gaits...) in the breeding value estimation for SF and maintain the high genetic trend on jumping.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 3946  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Dubois, C.; Manfredi, E.; Ricard, A. doi  openurl
  Title Optimization of breeding schemes for sport horses Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Livestock Science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 118 Issue 1-2 Pages 99-112  
  Keywords Breeding scheme; Horse; Jumping; Optimization; Genetic trend, Multistage selection  
  Abstract A selection scheme for jumping sport horses is modelled with four stages of selection for males and one stage for females. The selection objective included three traits: conformation and gaits (CG, weighted 20%), competition jumping (CJ, weighted 60%) and a third trait (TT, weighted 20%) such as sperm quality or orthopaedic status. The first selection stage is based on knowledge of the pedigree with the aim of selecting horses suitable for CG test (at 3 years old) and CJ test (at 5 years old). The second stage includes the horse's own performance with respect to CG and CJ with the aim of selecting horses suitable for the TT test. The third stage is the selection of a limited number of males who are allowed to reproduce. The fourth stage (at 12 years old) takes into account the results of the horse's progeny. Females are selected in one step, whatever the number of performances measured at 5 years old. The annual genetic response was 9.4% genetic standard deviation of the objective, 2.6% for CG, 9.0% for CJ and 1.5% for TT. Results showed that selection by progeny testing did not contribute much to genetic response (12% of progeny issued from proven sires), the female pathway represented 26% of genetic response, TT was difficult to improve when the genetic correlation was unfavourable (- 0.6% genetic standard deviation for - 0.20 genetic correlation), and should consequently be directed towards the use of molecular markers. When compared with a selection scheme involving a station test, genetic response was the same if the breeding values used for selection before entering the station test took into account the results of the relatives for CJ and CG. This revealed the importance of an extensive performance test (like for competition performance) when designing breeding schemes for sport horses.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1871-1413 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4759  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Thoren Hellsten, E.; Viklund, A.; Koenen, E.P.C.; Ricard, A.; Bruns, E.; Philipsson, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Review of genetic parameters estimated at stallion and young horse performance tests and their correlations with later results in dressage and show-jumping competition Type Journal Article
  Year 2006 Publication Livestock Science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 103 Issue 1-2 Pages 1-12  
  Keywords Genetic parameters; Sport horse; Performance test; Competition; Dressage; Show-jumping  
  Abstract Results from performance tests and competitions of young horses are used by major European warmblood horse breeding associations for genetic evaluations. The aim of this review was to compare genetic parameters for various tests of young horses to assess their efficiency in selection for dressage and show-jumping. Improved understanding of genetic information across countries is also necessary, as foreign trade with semen is rapidly increasing. The review is based on inquiries to European breed associations and on (17) scientific publications available, which have analysed genetic parameters of young horse data and/or relationships between young and mature horse results in sport. Despite differences in testing methods of young horses, results for major horse populations were in good agreement. Specially designed young horse performance tests, including stallion tests, showed high heritabilities and high genetic correlations with later competition results. We recommend that test results are encouraged to be used across countries for genetic evaluation of imported stallions and semen. Short station tests are generally preferred when selecting stallions for both dressage and jumping traits, whereas competition data may be used when selecting for only one discipline. We also recommend that extensive field testing of young horses is encouraged and should include both genders.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 3951  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Stachurska, A.; Pieta, M.; Nesteruk, E. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Which obstacles are most problematic for jumping horses? Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 77 Issue 3 Pages 197-207  
  Keywords Horses; Jumping events; Obstacles; Behaviour  
  Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the behaviour of horses jumping over variously designed obstacles, i.e. which obstacles are easy for them and jumped willingly or which cause difficulties. This was judged by scoring two main faults at jumping events: the number of knock-downs and run-outs with refusals. The data concerned 609 rounds made at regional competitions of various classes for 100-140 cm obstacle height. They included 5639 jumps at 343 obstacles, in total. Seventy-two horses participated in the competitions. The number of faults at a particular obstacle depended on the obstacle-type, height, colour and arrangement. Uprights and oxers were the most frequently knocked-down, while the walls were the most often run-out. When the height was increased, more obstacles were knocked-down but the number of run-outs did not change significantly. The obstacles of two contrasting colours were jumped without fault more often, whereas, those of one colour, light or dark, caused most of the faults. The least number of faults was committed at the second obstacle in a combination compared with the first, third and single ones. The third and fourth obstacles in the courses were faulty jumps most often. The results suggest that most of the factors examined, which differentiate the obstacle and course design, may influence the horse's behaviour. In consequence, the horses make more or fewer faults jumping over various obstacles.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0168-1591 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 3971  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Palme, R.; Fischer, P.; Schildorfer, H.; Ismail, M.N. url  openurl
  Title Excretion of infused 14C-steroid hormones via faeces and urine in domestic livestock Type Journal Article
  Year 1996 Publication Animal Reproduction Science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 43-63  
  Keywords Sheep--endocrinology; Pig--endocrinology; Pony; 14C-steroids; Faeces; Urine; Blood  
  Abstract The aim of this comparative study was to gain more information about the excretion of steroid hormones in farm animals. This should help to establish or improve non-invasive steroid monitoring procedures, especially in zoo and wildlife animals. Over a period of 4 h the 14C-steroid hormones (3.7 MBq) progesterone (three females), testosterone (three males), cortisol and oestrone (two males, two females) were infused intravenously in sheep, ponies and pigs. Faeces were collected immediately after defecation. Urine was sampled via a permanent catheter in females and after spontaneous urination in males. A total of 88 +/- 10% (mean +/- SD) of the administered radioactivity was recovered. Considerable interspecies differences were measured both in the amounts of steroid metabolites excreted via faeces or urine and the time course of excretion. Progesterone and oestrone in ewes, and progesterone in mares were excreted mainly in the faeces (over 75%). The primary route of excretion of all other 14C-steroids was via the urine but to a different extent. In general, sheep showed the highest degree of faecal excretion and pigs the least. The highest radioactivity in urine (per mmol creatinine) was observed during the infusion or in one of the next two samples thereafter, whereas in faeces it was measured about 12 h (sheep), 24 h (ponies) or 48 h (pigs) after the end of the infusion. Thereafter the radioactivity declined and reached background levels within 2-3 weeks. In faeces, steroid metabolites were present mainly in an unconjugated form, but in blood and urine as conjugates. Mean retention time of faecal radioactivity suggested that the passage rate of digesta (duodenum to rectum) played an important role in the time course of the excretion of steroids. The information derived from this investigation could improve the precision of sampling as well as the extraction of steroids from the faeces. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that it should be possible to establish methods for measuring faecal androgen and cortisol metabolites for assessing male reproductive endocrinology and stress in animals.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4069  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Giraldeau, Luc-Alain; Valone, Thomas, J.; Templeton, Jennifer, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Potential disadvantages of using socially acquired information Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Abbreviated Journal Phil. Trans. Biol. Sci.  
  Volume 357 Issue 1427 Pages 1559-1566  
  Keywords Public Information Informational Cascades Social Learning Sampling  
  Abstract The acquisition and use of socially acquired information is commonly assumed to be profitable. We challenge this assumption by exploring hypothetical scenarios where the use of such information either provides no benefit or can actually be costly. First, we show that the level of incompatibility between the acquisition of personal and socially acquired information will directly affect the extent to which the use of socially acquired information can be profitable. When these two sources of information cannot be acquired simultaneously, there may be no benefit to socially acquired information. Second, we assume that a solitary individual's behavioural decisions will be based on cues revealed by its own interactions with the environment. However, in many cases, for social animals the only socially acquired information available to individuals is the behavioural actions of others that expose their decisions, rather than the cues on which these decisions were based. We argue that in such a situation the use of socially acquired information can lead to informational cascades that sometimes result in sub-optimal behaviour. From this theory of informational cascades, we predict that when erroneous cascades are costly, individuals should pay attention only to socially generated cues and not behavioural decisions. We suggest three scenarios that might be examples of informational cascades in nature.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4197  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Val-Laillet, D.; Passille, A.M. de; Rushen, J.; von Keyserlingk, M.A.G. url  doi
openurl 
  Title The concept of social dominance and the social distribution of feeding-related displacements between cows Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 111 Issue 1-2 Pages 158-172  
  Keywords Cattle; Social dominance; Competitive success; Hierarchy; Feeding competition  
  Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which the classical properties of social dominance describe the pattern of feeder-related displacements with groups of cattle. We also compared the advantages and disadvantages of three dominance indices for describing the competitive success at the feeder. We observed displacements at the feeder within six groups of 12 lactating dairy cows over 72 h per group. We demonstrated that the cattle in our experiment established a quasi-linear hierarchy at the feeder where many dominance relationships were bi-directional (52.0 +/- 5.9%); namely, dominance relationships were significantly linear (P < 0.05 in five of the six groups) but contained many circular triads (45.0 +/- 5.6%). Dominance rank influenced the milk production (r = 0.36, P = 0.002) and the time budget of the animals: high-ranking cows were found spending more time at the feeder during the 120 min following provision of fresh food than low-ranking cows (P = 0.022), but dominance indices based on the occurrence of displacements at the feeder did not correlate with actual time spent at the feeder. The presence of numerous circular triads and bi-directional relationships suggests that the classical properties of social dominance do not correspond to the pattern of displacements that occur at feeders within small groups of cattle. Instead, the competitive success may also be affected by motivation or persistence by the animal to gain access to the food resource.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4213  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Fleurance, G.; Duncan, P.; Fritz, H.; Cabaret, J.; Cortet, J.; Gordon, I.J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Selection of feeding sites by horses at pasture: Testing the anti-parasite theory Type Journal Article
  Year 2007 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 108 Issue 3-4 Pages 228-301  
  Keywords Foraging strategies; Horses; Parasite risk; Patch choice  
  Abstract Management of grazed grasslands for production and/or conservation objectives requires a thorough understanding of the choices of feeding sites by herbivores, and of the biological processes involved. Most models of the feeding strategies of herbivores are based on the principle that optimising the intake of energy (or some nutrient) is the primary goal of foragers but other selective forces, such as parasitism, could be important. Gastrointestinal parasites (including cyathostome nematodes) have powerful effects on the fitness of herbivores and may act as a major selection pressure favouring host behaviour that reduces the risk of encountering parasites. Among large herbivores, horses have perhaps the most marked tendency to select particular feeding sites within grasslands. We test here: (1) whether horses select feeding patches with relatively low parasite densities and (2) if their choice is affected by their parasite load. We used 10 two-year old saddle-horses and three periods. In the first period, the horses were under natural parasitism which varied strongly among individuals; in the second period they were all dewormed, and in the third, a sub-set of the horses was experimentally infected with cyathostome larvae. Ninety-eight percent of the infective larvae in the pasture were found <1 m from faeces. The main determinant of the choice of feeding patch by horses was the availability of patches of different parasite risk and grass height. Controlling for availability, the horses used tall grasses (>16 cm) less than expected, whether the grass was contaminated or not, and they selected for short patches >1 m from faeces, where the risk of encountering parasites was low. These results suggest that selection of feeding sites by horses is driven by an interaction between their nutritional and anti-parasite strategies: the horses avoid the patches of tall grass which are generally of low quality and areas contaminated by parasite larvae which leads them to prefer the patches of short grass far from faeces. The parasite status of the horses at the time of the experiment had no effect on their feeding choices. However, before concluding that the challenge by cyathostomes has no effect on the selection of feeding sites in horses, it will be necessary to test whether the history of parasitism of the individuals, rather than the current status, is important.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4228  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Sweeting, M.P.; Houpt, C.E.; Houpt, K.A. url  openurl
  Title Social Facilitation of Feeding and Time Budgets in Stabled Ponies Type Journal Article
  Year 1985 Publication Journal of Animal Science Abbreviated Journal J. Anim Sci.  
  Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 369-374  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Eight pairs of pony mares were observed. Members of a pair were housed in adjacent stalls and fed hay ad libitum. The behavior of both ponies was recorded simultaneously in the morning (1000 to 1200 h) and afternoon (1400 to 1600 h) for a total of 117 h. The time budget was: 70.1 {+/-} 8.6% eating; 17.8 {+/-} 7.4% standing (including stand rest, stand alert and stand nonajert); 5.2 {+/-} 7.0% pushing hay; 2.9 {+/-} 1.2% walking; 1.9 {+/-} 2.9% drinking; 1.3 {+/-} 1.1% self-grooming; .2 {+/-} .3% defecating; .06 {+/-} .1% chewing nonfood items; .06 {+/-} .03% urination; .06 {+/-} .1% licking salt; .07 {+/-} .1% pawing hay; .6 {+/-} .7% lying and .07 {+/-} .08% stretching the neck over the stall wall dividing the ponies. While eating, the ponies lifted their heads 25.4 {+/-} 11.0 times/h. In less than one-half of the occasions when urination or defecation was observed, the ponies walked away from the spot where they had been eating to eliminate. During one-half of the observations, visual contact between the ponies was prevented by a solid partition between the stalls. The ponies spent significantly more time standing nonalert when the partition prevented visual contact (12 {+/-} 7%) than when visual contact could take place (6 {+/-} 3%, P<.05). When fresh hay was supplied in the mornings, the ponies spent similar amounts of time eating whether visual contact was allowed or not, but in the afternoon significantly more time was spent feeding when visual contact was allowed (73 {+/-} 4%) than when it was not (60 {+/-} 7%). Less time was spent eating, in the absence of visual contact, despite the presence of auditory and olfactory contact. Apparently social facilitation is important in maintaining feeding behavior in ponies. N1 -  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4232  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Silk, J.B. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Social Components of Fitness in Primate Groups Type Journal Article
  Year 2007 Publication Science Abbreviated Journal Science  
  Volume 317 Issue 5843 Pages 1347-1351  
  Keywords  
  Abstract There is much interest in the evolutionary forces that favored the evolution of large brains in the primate order. The social brain hypothesis posits that selection has favored larger brains and more complex cognitive capacities as a means to cope with the challenges of social life. The hypothesis is supported by evidence that shows that group size is linked to various measures of brain size. But it has not been clear how cognitive complexity confers fitness advantages on individuals. Research in the field and laboratory shows that sophisticated social cognition underlies social behavior in primate groups. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that the quality of social relationships has measurable fitness consequences for individuals.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language (up) Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes 10.1126/science.1140734 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4239  
Permanent link to this record
Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print