Phenotypic divergences in a subpopulation of Mangalarga Marchador equine: May we improve the breed's definitive register?
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate which morphometric variables have the greatest influence on the conformation differences observed in a subpopulation of adult Mangalarga Marchador (MM) horses and to summarize these traits through calculated scores (PCA eigenvectors) to later comp...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-35982025000100501&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate which morphometric variables have the greatest influence on the conformation differences observed in a subpopulation of adult Mangalarga Marchador (MM) horses and to summarize these traits through calculated scores (PCA eigenvectors) to later compare with the scores obtained by these animals during the act of registration. Forty-six morphometric traits were used, which included the 12 mandatory measures of the definitive genealogical registration and two of these new ones: “triangle” and the “Z” of the gait. We used 273 adult MM horses with known genealogy. In addition, their weight and 11 indexes used for functional analysis were calculated. Gait and morphology scores were provided by the Associação Brasileira dos Criadores do Cavalo Mangalarga Marchador (ABCCMM). Initially, the correlations between linear morphometry, angular morphometry, live weight, and functional indexes were analyzed separately. There was a greater proportional reduction of variables among linear measurements (from 32 to 15) than angular traits (from 12 to 7), which did not occur for weight and all the indexes. The low association between PCA scores and the subjective scores for morphology and gait at the registration, coupled with the fact that only six of the 12 mandatory linear measurements were related to the variability of the studied animals, suggests a review of the current registration system to improve sensitivity in the search for phenotypic traits of interest to maintain the current breed standard. |
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| ISSN: | 1806-9290 |