• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.747-752
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• 2008

This study was carried out to calculate genetic trends on racing speed traits of Thoroughbred racehorses, using a total 208,043 racing records of 9,934 heads collected from January, 1990 to December, 2006 in Gwacheon racecourse. Repeated time, winning time and annual best time were used racing speed traits. The estimated heritabilities and repeatabilities for repeated time, winning time and annual best time were 0.288, 0.275, 0.341 and 0.502, 0.475, 0.496, respectively. Average phenotypic improvement per race year for racing speed traits were ranged from －0.115 to 0.148 second. The other side, the genetic improvement per race year for repeated time was －0.027 second but winning time and annual best time were not shown consistent trends. Therefore, we concluded that repeated time is recommended improvement trait of Thoroughbred racehorses.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.659-669
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• 2022

Objective: Thoroughbred horses have been bred exclusively for racing in England for a long time. Additionally, because horse racing is a global sport, a healthy leisure activity for ordinary citizens, and a high-value business, systematic racehorse breeding at the population level is a requirement for continuous industrial development. Therefore, we established genomic evaluation system (using prize money as horse racing traits) to produce spirited, agile, and strong racing horse population Methods: We used phenotypic data from 25,061 Thoroughbred horses (all registered individuals in Korea) that competed in races between 1994 and 2019 at the Korea Racing Authority and constructed pedigree structures. We quantified the improvement in racehorse breeding output by year in Korea, and this aided in the establishment of a high-level horse-fill industry. Results: We found that pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction method improved the racing performance of the Thoroughbred population with high accuracy, making it possible to construct an excellent Thoroughbred racehorse population in Korea. Conclusion: This study could be used to develop an efficient breeding program at the population level for Korean Thoroughbred racehorse populations as well as others.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.309-315
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to test the expression patterns of ERBB receptor feedback inhibitor 1 (ERRFI1) before and after exercise and the association of non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) of horse ERRFI1 with racing traits in Thoroughbreds. Methods: We performed bioinformatics and gene expression analyses for horse ERRFI1. Transcription factor (TF) binding sites in the 5'-regulatory region of this gene were identified through a tool for prediction of TF-binding site (PROMO). A general linear model was used to detect the association between the nsSNP (LOC42830758 A to G) and race performance. Results: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that expression level of ERRFI1 after exercise was 1.6 times higher than that before exercise. Ten transcription factors were predicted from the ERRFI1 regulatory region. A novel nsSNP (LOC42830758 A to G) was found in ERRFI1, which was associated with three racing traits including average prize money, average racing index, and 3-year-old starts percentile ranking. Conclusion: Our analysis will be helpful as a basis for studying genes and SNPs that affect race performance in racehorses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.130-139
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• 2018

In ancient times, horse racing was done in ancient European countries in the form of wagon races or mountain races, and wagon racing was adopted as a regular event at the Greek Olympic Games. Thoroughbred horse has been bred since 17th century by intensive selective breeding for its speed, stamina, and racing ability. Then, in the 18th century, horse racing using the Thoroughbred species began to gain popularity among nobles. Since then, horse racing has developed into various forms in various countries and have developed into flat racing, steeplechasing, and harness racing. Thoroughbred racehorse has excellent racing abilities because of powerful selection breeding strategy for 300 years. It is necessary to maintain and maximize horses' ability to race, because horse industries produce enormous economic benefits through breeding, training, and horse racing. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods which process large amounts of genomic data have been developed recently. Based on the remarkable development of these genomic analytical techniques, it is now possible to easily carry out animal breeding strategies with superior traits. In order to select breeding racehorse with superior racing traits, the latest genomic analysis techniques have to be introduced. In this paper, we will review the current efforts to improve race performance for racehorses and to examine the research trends of genomic analysis. Finally, we suggest to utilize genomic analysis in Thoroughbred racehorse and Jeju horse, and propose a strategy for selective breeding for Jeju horse, which contributes job creation of Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1609-1613
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for racing performance traits of thoroughbredracehorses, using a total of 58,124 racing records of 4,200 horses at Gwacheon Racing Park collected from January 2002 to December 2006. This study measured start one furlong time, last three and last one furlong times, and the resulting furlong time averages were 14.2 seconds, 39.9 seconds and 13.9 seconds, respectively. Furlong time means a split time measured based on a 1/8-mile (or approximately 201 m) distance and finished time means total racing time measured from start position to finish line. In the shortest distance races of 1,000 m, the average last three and last one furlong time was fastest at 38.7 seconds and 13.6 seconds, respectively. The correlation between finished time and start one furlong time decreased as the race distance increased, and the same trend was recognized from the correlation between finished time and last three furlong time. In short distance races of 1,400 m or less, the starting ability was found to be an important trait. The average speed was highest at 56 km/h for a 1,000 m race and lowest at 53.2 km/h for a 1,700 m race. Heritabilities of the start one furlong time, the last three and last one furlong time were estimated to be 0.337, 0.245 and 0.210, respectively; and repeatabilities for them were 0.452, 0.353 and 0.309, respectively. Phenotypic and genetic correlations between the start and the last one furlong time were negative at -0.141 and -0.155, respectively.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2024

Background: Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a prominent technology that can preserve superior genetic traits of animals and expand the population in a short time. Hematological characters and endocrine profiles are important elements that demonstrate the stability of the physiological state of cloned animals. To date, several studies regarding cloned camels with superior genes have been conducted. However, detailed hemato-physiological assessments to prove that cloned camels are physiologically normal are limited. In this study, We evaluated the hemato-physiological characteristics of cloned male and female dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries). Methods: Therefore, we analyzed variations in hematological characteristics and endocrine profiles between cloned and non-cloned age-matched male and female dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries). Two groups each of male and female cloned and non-cloned camels were monitored to investigate the differences in hemato-physiological characteristics. Results: All the animals were evaluated by performing complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, and endocrinological tests. We found no significant difference between the cloned and non-cloned camels. Furthermore, the blood chemistry and endocrine profiles in male and female camels before maturity were similar. Conclusions: These results suggest that cloned and non-cloned camels have similar hematological characteristics and endocrine parameters.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.795-801
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on equine chromosomes (ECA) 3 and 9 with body weight in Jeju horses. We used DNA samples and body weight data of 320 horses provided by the Livestock Promotion Agency, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and the Korean Racing Association, respectively. We genotyped all the experimental animals using nine SNP markers located on ECA 3 (BIEC2-808466, BIEC2-808543, BIEC2-808967, and BIEC2-809370) and ECA 9 (BIEC2-1105370, BIEC2-1105372, BIEC2-1105377, BIEC21105505, and BIEC2-1105840). These markers were selected due to their effects on body conformation traits in horses. The joint effect of the genotypes of the two SNP markers (BIEC2-808467 and BIEC2-1105377) regarding body weight were also evaluated. The estimated breeding value (EBV) of body weight was obtained as the dependent variable for association analyses using a linear mixed model. Significant associations were detected between SNP markers (BIEC2-808543, BIEC2-808967, BIEC2-809370, BIEC2-1105370, BIEC2-1105372, and BIEC2-1105377) and the body weight EBV. In addition, the joint genotype effect of the BIEC2-808467 and BIEC2-1105377 on the body weight EBV was significant. These results indicate that the SNP markers, which showed their significant effects on body conformation, can be used as genetic markers to improve the efficiency of the selective breeding program for the body weight traits in Jeju horses.