Collecting and selecting for health characteristics is developing rapidly. In the coming years, health characteristics will play a greater role in the breeding policy.
Globally, the health characteristics can be divided into:
Vitality (sustainability and maturity)
Fertility (stallions and mares)
Disease resistance
Hereditary abnormalities
Health traits are partly related to inbreeding. A two-track policy is being pursued with regard to health characteristics. On the one hand, selection is made for these characteristics and, on the other hand, the breeding policy is aimed at reducing inbreeding. Characteristics that are now included in the selection are:
Category | Feature |
Fertility | Sperm quality |
Hereditary abnormalities | Hydrocephalus |
| Dwarfism |
X-ray examination | OC/OCD |
| Hoof pulley |
| Ringhoe |
| Hoof cartilage ossification |
| Extensor process |
Other | Cornage |