Connections Between Gene Polymorphism and Fetlock and Hock Measurements in Polish Sport Horses

Finding the causative mutations for musculoskeletal system development and health status is of a higher priority for all sport horse breeders' associations. Of the regulating proteins involved in animal ossification, 15 gene polymorphisms were chosen to be identified as connected with the nine fetlock and 14 hock bone structures measurements of 198 horses. All measurements were taken using X-rays of the limbs, which were available at the beginning and end of the horse training. The analysis of variance (GLM, SAS program) was performed taking into account identified training and horse-connected characteristics, and gene polymorphism. The larger size of the bone structure was achieved in the fetlock for the heterozygotes of <i>COL9A2</i>, <i>AOAH1</i>, <i>BMPER</i>, <i>HYAL3</i>, and <i>ELMO1</i>. The heterozygotes were superior to homozygotes in the hock for the following genes: <i>COL9A2</i>, <i>HYAL3</i>, <i>ANLN</i>, and <i>HYAL1</i>. The lower homozygote values were obtained for GG in <i>CPVL</i> in fetlock measurements, TT for <i>HYAL3</i> in fetlock, TT for <i>ANLN</i> in fetlock, CC for <i>FRZB</i> in the hock, TT for <i>MATN</i> in the hock, and TT for <i>COL5A2</i> in the hock than their opposite homozygote and heterozygote variants. <i>COL9A2</i> and <i>HYAL3</i> are expressed in the same way for most of the bone structures in both joints.