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Iglesias Pastrana C, Navas González FJ, Ciani E, Marín Navas C, Delgado Bermejo JV. Determination of breeding criteria for gait proficiency in leisure riding and racing dromedary camels: a stepwise multivariate analysis of factors predicting overall biomechanical performance. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1297430. [PMID: 38292133 PMCID: PMC10826703 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1297430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
To date, the biomechanical dynamics in camelids have not been addressed, although it might be a factor that can affect selection and breeding in this species. Therefore, the aim of this article is to conduct curve fitting and discriminant canonical analysis to identify the mathematical function that best captures the dynamics of camel locomotion and to study the impact of kinematic, morphometric, physiological, and phaneroptic variables on gait performance in leisure riding and racing activities in dromedaries, respectively. The cubic function emerged as the most suitable mathematical model to represent the locomotive behavior of camels. Various factors were found to play a pivotal role in the athletic performance of leisure riding and racing dromedary camels. Concretely, angular measurements at the distal fore and rear extremity areas, pelvis inclination, relative volume of the hump, impact forces of the front limbs, post-neutering effects, and the kinematic behavior of the scapula, shoulder, carpus, hip, and foot are the factors that greatly impact gait performance in leisure riding and racing camels. The biomechanical performance at these specific body regions has a profound impact on weight absorption and minimization of mechanic impact during camel locomotion, static/dynamic balance, force distribution, energy of propulsion, movement direction and amplitude, and storage of elastic strain in leisure riding and racing dromedaries. In contrast, other animal- and environment-dependent factors do not exert significant influence on camel gait performance, which can be attributed to species-specific, inherited adaptations developed in response to desert conditions, including the pacing gait, broad foot pads, and energy-efficient movements. The outcomes of our functional data analysis can provide valuable insights for making informed breeding decisions aimed at enhancing animal functional performance in camel riding and racing activities. Furthermore, these findings can open avenues for exploring alternative applications, such as camel-assisted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elena Ciani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Carmen Marín Navas
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
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Duru S, Altınçekiç ŞÖ, Hanoğlu Oral H. Effectiveness of genetic grouping with different strategies for estimation of genetic parameters in growth traits in Merino lambs. Small Rumin Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Gómez M, Rossi D, Cimmino R, Zullo G, Gombia Y, Altieri D, Di Palo R, Biffani S. Accounting for Genetic Differences Among Unknown Parents in Bubalus bubalis: A Case Study From the Italian Mediterranean Buffalo. Front Genet 2021; 12:625335. [PMID: 33633785 PMCID: PMC7901897 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.625335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of genetic evaluations in the Water Buffalo by means of a Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) animal model has been increased over the last two-decades across several countries. However, natural mating is still a common reproductive strategy that can increase the proportion of missing pedigree information. The inclusion of genetic groups in variance component (VC) and breeding value (EBV) estimation is a possible solution. The aim of this study was to evaluate two different genetic grouping strategies and their effects on VC and EBV for composite (n = 5) and linear (n = 10) type traits in the Italian Mediterranean Buffalo (IMB) population. Type traits data from 7,714 buffalo cows plus a pedigree file including 18,831 individuals were provided by the Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders. VCs and EBVs were estimated for each trait fitting a single-trait animal model and using the official DNA-verified pedigree. Successively, EBVs were re-estimated using modified pedigrees with two different proportion of missing genealogies (30 or 60% of buffalo with records), and two different grouping strategies, year of birth (Y30/Y60) or genetic clustering (GC30, GC60). The different set of VCs, estimated EBVs and their standard errors were compared with the results obtained using the original pedigree. Results were also compared in terms of efficiency of selection. Differences among VCs varied according to the trait and the scenario considered. The largest effect was observed for two traits, udder teat and body depth in the GC60 genetic cluster, whose heritability decreased by -0.07 and increased by +0.04, respectively. Considering buffalo cows with record, the average correlation across traits between official EBVs and EBVs from different scenarios was 0.91, 0.88, 0.84, and 0.79 for Y30, CG30, Y60, and CG60, respectively. In bulls the correlations between EBVs ranged from 0.90 for fore udder attachment and udder depth to 0.96 for stature and body length in the GC30 scenario and from 0.75 for udder depth to 0.90 for stature in the GC60 scenario. When a variable proportion of missing pedigree is present using the appropriate strategy to define genetic groups and including them in VC and EBV is a worth-while and low-demanding solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Gómez
- Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders, Caserta, Italy
| | - Dario Rossi
- Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders, Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberta Cimmino
- Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders, Caserta, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Zullo
- Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders, Caserta, Italy
| | - Yuri Gombia
- Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders, Caserta, Italy
| | - Damiano Altieri
- Italian National Association of Buffalo Breeders, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Palo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Biffani
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
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Navas González FJ, Jordana Vidal J, León Jurado JM, McLean AK, Pizarro Inostroza G, Delgado Bermejo JV. Genetic parameter estimation and implementation of the genetic evaluation for gaits in a breeding program for assisted-therapy in donkeys. Vet Res Commun 2018; 42:101-110. [PMID: 29430609 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-018-9712-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Genetic analyses in donkeys are likely to face compromises in terms of sample size and population structure. This study aims at implementing a suitable model to estimate breeding values and genetic parameters for gaits in Andalusian donkeys. Empirical observation revealed that ambling donkeys (showing a slightly uneven, non-isochronous 1-2, 3-4 lateral sequence gait) did not walk (i.e. presented an isochronous, even 1-2-3-4 sequence gait) and vice versa. However, the two donkey groups could trot, equally. In this study, 2700 gait records were registered from 300 donkeys. The sample included 1350 gait records from 169 ambling/trotting donkeys and 1350 gait records from 131 walking/trotting donkeys. Fixed effects included year, season, sex, farm/owner, husbandry system, weather, ground type and appraisers. Weight and age were included as covariates. MTDFREML software was used to estimate (co)variance components, genetic parameters and predict breeding values and their accuracies in both sets, separately. Gaits' heritability ± SE estimates were 0.56 ± 0.155, 0.53 ± 0.317 and 0.67 ± 0.166 for amble, walk and trot, respectively. Genetic correlations were 0.31 ± 0.216, 0.42 ± 0.115 and 0.28 ± 0.178, for amble and walk, amble and trot and walk and trot, respectively. Not all gaits are suitable to treat every human sensomotor condition. We developed a locomotion selection index, assessing the relative loss/gain in index accuracy when each gait modality was excluded to develop different gait specific therapeutic lines to genetically select the best performing donkeys from each gait modality. Our results suggest that gait genetic lines could be developed and may be potential selection criteria to consider in assisted-therapy donkey breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Navas González
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain. .,The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.
| | - Jordi Jordana Vidal
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.,Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel León Jurado
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.,Centro Agropecuario Provincial de Córdoba, Diputación Provincial de Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain
| | - Amy Katherine McLean
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.,Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Gabriela Pizarro Inostroza
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.,The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain
| | - Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.,The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, 14071, Spain
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