Inbreeding in the Thoroughbred has increased significantly in the last 45 years according to a research paper published in Scientific Reports, the Racing Post reported on Saturday. Professor Emmeline Hill, a co-author on the report, spearheaded the research conducted by University College Dublin and equine science company Plusvital.
The DNA of over 10,000 Thoroughbreds was analyzed, with the result a marked increase of inbreeding within the population, as favourable racing traits were selected, as well as more popular sire lines. Ninety-seven percent of the horses in the study traced to Northern Dancer, 35% of European horses had Sadler's Wells present in their pedigree and 55% of Australian horses had Danehill among their ancestry.
Also the Chief Science Officer of Plusvital, Professor Hill told Racing Post, “Inbreeding has always been high in Thoroughbreds, but it is getting higher. It's likely that, unchecked, inbreeding in the Thoroughbred will continue to increase in a market where there is high demand for particular sire lines.
“The problem with inbreeding is that it can compromise overall population fertility and health. This is a highly significant issue akin to global warming, where inbreeding is accumulating in the population, and it must be addressed at an industry-wide level.”
As noted in John Boyce's recent article on the under performance of inbred horses, higher inbreeding is not associated with better results on the racecourse.
Hill noted that the research should be seen as a way to quantify a still-solvable issue in the industry.
“Our new data can assist the industry to monitor inbreeding and we have developed DNA-based tools that individual breeders can use to reduce the problem by choosing genetically diverse stallions for their mares. The purpose of this research is to provide information that, if harnessed in the right way, could be beneficial to ensure the future sustainability of the breed.”
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