Endurance Exercise Ability in the Horse: A Trait with Complex Polygenic Determinism.

ABSTRACT: Endurance horses are able to run at more than 20 km/h for 160 km (in bouts of 30-40 km). This level of performance is based on intense aerobic metabolism, effective body heat dissipation and the ability to endure painful exercise. The known heritabilities of endurance performance and exercise-related physiological traits in Arabian horses suggest that adaptation to extreme endurance exercise is influenced by genetic factors. The objective of the present genome-wide association study (GWAS) was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to endurance racing performance in 597 Arabian horses. The performance traits studied were the total race distance, average race speed and finishing status (qualified, eliminated or retired). We used three mixed models that included a fixed a

SUBMITTER: Ricard A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5488500 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature