Maternal Effects on Offspring Performance in Show Jumping

Maternal preconceptional, gestational and early post-natal environments have been demonstrated in several animal species and in humans to alter offspring phenotype. In particular, embryo technologies, nutritional imbalance at the time of breeding and maternal parity were shown in horses and/or other species to affect offspring growth and metabolism. The aim of this project was to evaluate the maternal effects resulting from maternal heritable aptitude for breeding (including pregnancy, lactation and behaviour until weaning) and permanent maternal environment (including also herd effects such as nutrition, management and valorization) and specific fixed effects such as age and parity of the mother, concurrent lactation during pregnancy or pregnancy obtained by embryo transfer on Show Jumping performance at adulthood.
Source: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research