I’ve been following the WFFS testing happening here and abroad, and it made me think – are we testing for other genetic issues? In dog breeding, they have entire panels of genetic markers for issues. Not fool proof for a healthy puppy of course, but might help weed out some of the issues. Is this something that is being worked on for horses?
Short answer is yes. More important question is probably “why test for a genetic issue that is extremely unlikely to occur in the animal being tested?” As I understand it, the chances of a Holsteiner having SCID or Lethal White (as examples) is extremely small, arguably non-existent, but a panel tests for it anyway. I think in a lab setting there’s a certain amount of increased efficiency in treating all samples alike rather than picking and choosing individual tests, and in the world of most of the work being done by machines, there may be no extra saving by NOT doing one or more of the tests.
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There is in the Friesian world. Testing is available for dwarfism and hyrdocephalus. I believe it is now mandatory for Ster rated mares to be tested as well. It’s all for the health, well-being and future for the breed.
The one thing that I have only begun to learn about (largely in related to the FFS discussion, but friends who are more in the know in dog breeding have been quick to chime in and add to my rudimentary education) is that while testing, education, and further study on genetic conditions is never the wrong answer, there can be a problem if the response to a condition is extreme. In conditions that are recessive (one copy of the gene is completely asymptomatic and doesn’t have any affect on the individual with it), refusing to breed those “carrier” individuals can end up detrimentally limiting a population group, to the point of challenging what can be an already-limited genetic diversity (especially in certain breeds of animals that have long since stopped accepting out-crossings).
All that aside: there are plenty of tests available for horses for assorted conditions. Most of the labs that offer tests (animal genetics is pretty easy to navigate, so maybe a good first stop) have a pretty accessible list of what those are (edit: for convenience, here’s a link). I also like that they have a general break-down of what breeds are impacted (or most likely to be) by each condition. (I will note that it isn’t foolproof - they don’t mention thoroughbreds as susceptible to FFS in their chart.) In their order form, they have options for an “arabian horse panel”, “gypsy horse panel”, “warmblood horse panel”, and “quarter horse panel” - each with the relevant tests to those breeds.
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@Edre I wish I had seen this yesterday. The warmblood horse panel would have saved me $5 and added a test I didn’t think to add.
Thanks!! I did look through Animal Genetics, and it answered a lot of my questions. I agree with your dog-breeding friends Edre – people can take that information and go to extremes. If you KNOW mom is a carrier and dad is not, it is not possible for it to be symptomatic in baby. Worse case is they are also a carrier. But it’s still important to know. I have border collies, and the genetic testing does add some peace of mind. It also can help identify breeders who have sufficient knowledge to breed responsibly. Hopefully it will become more commonplace in the horse world as well.
