Inbreeding, Linebreeding and Crossbreeding
from NSAE NEWS VOL. 1 N6
December 12, 1997
INBREEDING‘s purpose is to fix certain traits or the influence of certain ancestors upon the progeny. This procedure varies in degree from intense closebreeding to mild linebreeding. Although inbreeding can be detrimental to fertility, vigor, and athletic ability within the offspring, it can also result in true-breeding strains of horses (that consistently pass important traits to their offspring). Because most breeds were formed by a process of inbreeding, the breeding of purebred horses is, my definition, a form of inbreeding. Some breeds are more inbred than others. (Degree of inbreeding depends on the number of common ancestors, how far back in the pedigree they appear, and how often each common ancestor occurs.)
From a genetic viewpoint, inbreeding results in an increase of the number of homozygous gene pairs in the offspring. Homozygous refers to a condition where two paired chromosomes have the same allelle (gene type) at a corresponding point. Because two close relatives tend to have more of the same alleles (by virtue of inheritance) than two unrelated individuals, their mating provides a greater chance for identical alleles to be paired within their offspring. This increase in homozygosity is directly related to the appearance of both desirable and detrimental characteristics that were not necessarily apparent in the sire and dam.
When horses are inbred haphazardly, without culling of inferior stock, many undesirable traits may become predominant in their offspring. For example, the inbred horse’s ability to resist disease and his overall performance capacity are often depressed. The growth rate of the inbred foal, and the average mature size within the inbred herd, frequently decreases. Nonselective inbreeding is directly related to a depressed fertility rate, an increase in abortion and stillbirth. Some basic principles of genetics show why these traits are directly related to inbreeding.
When two unrelated horses are mated, the chances of unidentical alleles combining within the resulting embryo are high. On the other hand, mating close relatives increases the pairing of identical alleles (increases homozygosity). The effect of increased homozygosity is a decrease in the number of heterozygous gene pairs and, subsequently, a decline in heterosis (i.e., loss of vigor and fertility). Although the reason for this allelic interaction is not clear, geneticists believe that its presence contributes to the overall quality of an individual. Therefore, as homozygosity increases within the inbred herd, physical quality controlled by overdominant alleles declines.
Many undesirable genes affecting the horse’s overall vigor and fertility are recessive. Fortunately, they have no influence in the heterozygous state, since the effect of the recessive allele is completely hidden by the effect of the corresponding dominant allele. Because of the overall effect of inbreeding is an increase in homozygosity, it increases the number of homozygous recessives. Hence, the effects of undesirable recessive genes begin to surface. Inbreeding does not create undesirable trait, it exposes recessive alleles for hidden weaknesses which are present within the sire and dam. Because successful inbreeding demands the culling of inferior breeding stock over many generations (to help eliminate some of the undesirable recessive genes from the herd), it may not be feasible for some breeders. Not only is the time factor impractical for most breeders, the intense culling often necessary may be an economic problem. Additionally, the traits which tend to surface within the inbred herd (such as depressed growth rate and decreased size) contrast sharply with what many breeders select for. Therefore, the breeder must be objective when the need to cull arises.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of inbreeding is that it increases the prepotency of individuals within a herd and consequently helps to create distinct true-breeding strains or families. This prepotency (the ability of a stallion or broodmare to stamp desirable characteristics upon their offspring with a high degree of predictability) is the result of the parent being homozygous for important desirable traits. When such a parent carries two identical alleles on corresponding points of a chromosome pair, he transmits that allele to the same chromosome point within his offspring. If two such parents are mated, the offspring will always possess the same desirable trait. Therefore, as inbreeding increases homozygosity, it also enhances prepotency. (This is advantageous only if the parents are homozygous for desirable traits.)
As mentioned previously, inbreeding exposes certain weaknesses within the inbred herd. Uncovering these undesirable traits can be an important tool for the overall improvement within a large breeding program. By setting certain selection guidelines, and by carefully eliminating inbred individuals which show inherit weaknesses, the breeder can slowly remove any undesirable recessive genes from their herd. They will find that vigor and fertility are actually improved when inbreeding is accompanied by careful selection.
A successful inbreeding program requires good foundation stock and severe culling over many years. For this reason, inbreeding is usually practiced by experienced breeders who operate large farms for the production of superior prepotent breeding stock. It can also be used to establish breeds, or true-breeding types, with respect to certain characteristics such as color or size.
A breeding system which uses extreme inbreeding, such as mating between siblings or between parents and offspring, is referred to as CLOSEBREEDING. The detrimental effects of inbreeding (such as decrease in vigor, fertility, athletic ability and size) are usually exaggerated in a closebreeding system. This is especially true when average breeding stock are used and little culling has been implemented. Closebreeding can produce extremely good, or extremely poor, results. Success and failure depend on factors such as planninig, foundation stock, emphasis on culling, and completeness of pedigree and performance records, etc. Haphazard closebreeding could be very detrimental to the overall quality of the resulting offspring. To avoid disaster, a careful study of the merits and weaknesses of the breeding stock should precede a closebreeding program. Only the most outstanding mares and stallions can be used with any degree of safety in a long term closebreeding program.
Closebreeding is a valuable tool in genetic research, since it quickly exposes hidden gene types that an individual carries. Because of its extreme nature and the chance that it may suddenly cause undesirable effects in the offspring, closebreeding is not often used by horse breeders. Some breeders, who operate large and well organized program, might utilize closebreeding if they progeny test their stallions. (One method of progeny testing a sire is to mate him to a large group of his own daughters. A study of the offspring determines whether he carries undesirable genes hidden in the heterozygous state.) After a stallion proves that he is of superior gene type, the experienced breeder may choose to continue the closebreeding to increase prepotency of future breeding stock.
LINEBREEDING, the most conservative form of inbreeding, is usually associated with slower improvement and limited risk of producing undesirable individuals. It can involve matings between closely or distantly related horses, but it does not emphasize continuous sire-daughter, dam-son, or brother-sister matings. The main purpose of linebreeding is to transmit a large percentage of one outstanding ancestor’s genes from generation to generation without causing an increase in the frequency of undesirable traits often associated with inbreeding.
Because linebreeding is not based strictly on mating closely related individuals (with very similar gene types), it does not necessarily cause a rapid increase in homozygous gene pairs. Consequently, it will not expose undesirable recessive genes as extensively as closebreeding. For this reason, linebreeding is generally a safer inbreeding program for most breeders.
Intensive inbreeding (and resulting increased homozygosity) is often directly related to an increase in the expression of many undesirable traits. Therefore, the linebreeder should carefully study pedigrees for each prospective mating and determine if, and how closely, the mare and stallion are related. By following certain guidelines, the breeder can limit inbreeding (and, therefore, homozygosity) within their herd. At the same time, they may increase the influence of a common ancestor upon the entire strain or family.
CROSSBREEDING is the mating of horses from different breeds. Crossbreeding may also be used to produce heterosis, the sudden increase in vigor and fertility caused by a sudden increase in heterozygosity. Because horses from separate breeds usually carry very different genotypes, crossbreeding causes a more extreme form of heterosis. The possibility of each parent contributing identical alleles to their offspring is remote. Heterosis from crossbreeding often appears as a sudden improvement in physical characteristics, such as size, endurance, disease resistance, etc. New breeds are sometimes established by crossing members of two or more breeds and carefully inbreeding the original crossbred offspring. Crossbreeding initiates the desired change, while inbreeding increases the ability of each generation to breed “true to type”.
Author Anonymous
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Copyright� 1997 – Craig P. Stevens, Director, National School of Academic Equitation.
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