Wednesday, July 8, 2015

The Importance Of The DNA Testing For Horses

By Eula Clarke


The genetic diseases cause emotional pain as well as a financial burden to the horse owners and breeders alike. In this category, the common ones include HERDA, MH, HYPP, PSSM1 & PSSM2, and GBED. However, if the breeder goes for the DNA testing for horses, it is possible to determine if your horse has genes that make it a carrier or exposes it to the chances of suffering from any of these hereditary conditions so that you can be well informed and make right decisions.

For the Stock Horse breeds, including Appaloosa, Quarter Horse, and Paint Horse, the most common genetically related or hereditary diseases include the Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP), PSSM1 and PSSM2, GBED, the HERDA, and the MH.

The same can be said of the HERDA, HYPP and the GBED. If the breed carries the Frame Overo, then the breeder must be careful to avoid the OLWS.

The CSNB on the other hands is a disease in the breed that carries the LP Complex. If you own a Belgian Draft Horse, there are many reasons to worry about the Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa 1 (JEB 1). The American Saddlebred breeders on the other hands need to be careful to avoid the JEB 2.

The Overo Lethal White Syndrome for instance comes about when the Frame Overo is bred to another Fame Overo. In this case, one in four offspring (25%) have the change of getting the lethal foal. Even though it is a viral disease, it easily hides in different generations of horses and must be tested if it is to be detected.

For the breeders, DNA testing is a must procedure. In fact, it has to be done on the stallion as well as the mare. This is due to the fact that both of the parents have an equal chance of being the carrier. It is a well-known scientific fact that an offspring will carry one allele from each of the parents, and if one of them lacked allele, then the offspring also misses this allele. With this kind of knowledge, it is only advisable to have a clear genetic record of the prospective parents and breed only when it is wise to do so.

The DNA testing is not the job of breeders only; even the horse owners need these records. There are several hereditary diseases that do not show symptoms and have to be triggered before they show. The MH for instance, can be triggered by anesthesia. As such, you have to be well prepared unless you want a dead horse after a dentist visit. PSSM 1 & 2 can be regulated by managing the diet, and this is only possible if the owner is aware of this condition.

As far as the cost is concerned, it depends on the company and the arrangement between you. Some deals like membership cards can earn you discounts. However, you can also take the opportunity to test for the color genes to be able to predict the offspring color.




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