title: Prevalence, risk factors and genetic parameters of cresty neck in Pura Raza Español horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cresty neck is a relatively common morphological defect in Pura Raza Español horses and other Baroque type horse breeds, which adversely affects the breeding industry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the within-breed prevalence, possible associated factors and heritability of cresty neck in Pura Raza Español horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of a large worldwide database of Pura Raza Español horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The database included evaluations of 10,929 Pura Raza Español horses from 24 countries. Cresty neck score, on a 9 point scale, girth-to-height ratio, height at the withers, length of neck, head-neck junction and neck-body junction were recorded. A Bayesian genetic animal model included the following systematic effects: girth-to-height ratio, age, sex, coat colour and geographical area of the stud. Animal and residual effects were included as random effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within this Pura Raza Español population, 8.91% had a cresty neck score ≥5, which is the threshold for penalty or disqualification in the studbook of the breed. The age, sex, coat colour and stud geographical area were significantly associated with cresty neck score. The estimated heritability coefficient for cresty neck score was 0.37 (s.d. = 0.034) and genetic correlation between cresty neck score and other conformational traits ranged from -0.06 (height-at-withers) to -0.21 (neck-body junction).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cresty neck is a prevalent defect in Pura Raza Español horses, associated with age, sex, coat colour and other conformational traits, with a moderate level of heritability. Breeding to select against this condition may therefore be beneficial in this breed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro-Forestry Sciences, ETSIA, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro-Forestry Sciences, ETSIA, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Azor
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Cordoba, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Anatomy and Pathological Anatomy, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: J L L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro-Forestry Sciences, ETSIA, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valera
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000662:veterinary*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: body condition; crest; heritability; horse; neck adiposity; obesity