What is an outcross in horse breeding?
Outcrossing, which introduces unrelated genetic material to a breed line, increases genetic diversity and reduces the probability that the horse will have diseases or genetic abnormalities.
What does pedigree mean in horses?
Definition of pedigree 1 : a register recording a line of ancestors The pedigree traces the family back to the 18th century. 2a : an ancestral line : lineage That horse has an impressive pedigree.
What is an outcross sire?
Thoroughbreds described as “outcrossed” do not have any ancestors duplicated between the sire’s and dam’s sides of their pedigrees within five generations. If an ancestor is duplicated on the sire’s side of the pedigree but not on the dam’s side — or vice versa — the foal is still considered to be outcrossed.
How do you read a pedigree horse race?
The horse that is “registered” is at the top of the certificate. The pedigree that follows is the horse’s sire and dam. The sire (which is the father to the horse) is on the top or first branch of the pedigree. The second branch is the dam (the mother of the horse).
What does outcross pedigree mean?
Outcrossing is defined as the mating of two dogs that are totally unrelated. There are some breeders who would define outcrossing as the breeding of two dogs with no common ancestors in a four generation pedigree.
What is a mother horse called?
dam
In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old. The word can also be used for other female equine animals, particularly mules and zebras, but a female donkey is usually called a “jenny”. A broodmare is a mare used for breeding. A horse’s female parent is known as its dam.
Is inbreeding in horses bad?
Although inbreeding makes it easier to predict what characteristics will be passed on, heavily inbred animals are more likely to inherit negative genetic characteristics as well as positive ones from their parents. Although thoroughbred horses are a result of inbreeding, they are not actually very purebred at all.
Can a horse breed a cow?
It is well known that horses and donkeys do occasionally mate with cattle (e.g., see videos below). Such mixed matings are fairly common events on ranches and other places where these animals are likely to come into regular contact.
What does Di mean in horse racing?
Dosage Index
The Dosage Index (DI) and related Center of Distribution (CD) largely represent the ratio of speed and stamina. The CD is a number between -2 and +2 which indicates the distance a horse could potentially be successful over.
What is an outcross in cattle?
Outcrossing– The mating of an individual to another in the same breed that is not related to it. This is the most widely used mating system by both commercial and seedstock producers. Outcrossing is a specific type of outbreeding system.