Monitoring of genealogical structure development of East Bulgarian breed horses originating from stallions of other sporting breeds

Abstract

The origin of horses from the East Bulgarian breed, which descent from the other sport breeds stallions used for grading has been investigated. Genealogical structure development was traced by pedigree analyses of 1123 horses, born during the period from 2000 to 2018. The East Bulgarian Horse Association set of statistical data, concerning stallions' breeding activity and productive life of their progeny were used. Two new lines with founders Hanoverians Da Kapo (GER) and Eistanzer (GER) were set up during the last four generations. Nowadays the line of stallion Da Kapo (GER) has developed in second and third generation after the founder and the line of stallion Eistanzer (GER)-in fourth generation after the founder. A small bulk of genealogical groups with origin traced to stallions Ladykiller, Cottage Son, Cor de la Bryere and Alme Z have developed.

Full text

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AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 11, No 3, pp 195 - 197, 2019
DOI: 10.15547/ast.2019.03.032
Genetics and Breeding
Monitoring of genealogical structure development of East Bulgarian breed horses originating
from stallions of other sporting breeds
I. Sabeva1
,
M. Popova2*
1Department of Animal Sciences, Agricultural Institute, 9700 Shumen, Bulgaria
2Department of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
(Manuscript received 6 June 2019; accepted for publication 26 July 2019)
Abstract. The origin of horses from the East Bulgarian breed, which descent from the other sport breeds stallions used for grading has been investigat-
ed. Genealogical structure development was traced by pedigree analyses of 1123 horses, born during the period from 2000 to 2018. The East Bulgarian
Horse Association set of statistical data, concerning stallions’ breeding activity and productive life of their progeny were used. Two new lines with founders
Hanoverians Da Kapo (GER) and Eistanzer (GER) were set up during the last four generations. Nowadays the line of stallion Da Kapo (GER) has developed
in second and third generation after the founder and the line of stallion Eistanzer (GER) – in fourth generation after the founder. A small bulk of genealogical
groups with origin traced to stallions Ladykiller, Cottage Son, Cor de la Bryere and Alme Z have developed.
Keywords: sport horse-breeding, selection, genealogical structure
*e-mail: m_popova1@abv.bg
Introduction
The East Bulgarian horse is a national breed with an endangered
status. The Stud Book is recognized by the World Breeding Federation
for Sport Horses (WBFSH). The main method for improving the traits
that are subject of selection is pure breeding. The genealogical struc-
ture and variation of genealogical units existence is the subject of nu-
merous scientic studies, the results of which are used in the design
of the respective breeding programs of populations (Popov, 1959;
Sabeva, 1991; Kierkegaard, 1993; Silvestrelli et al., 1993; Flanagan,
1993; Zechner et al., 2002; Sabeva, 2007; Sabeva and Kaschiev, 2010;
Barzev, 2011; Vicente et al., 2012; Bokor et al., 2013; Hamann and Distl,
2014; Medeiros et al., 2014; Popova, 2017).
By the early 1990s, horses of the East Bulgarian breed have
been tested in at races and steeplechase. When evaluating the
breeding value, the data from their participation in equestrian sport
disciplines was complementary. Over the last three generations, the
increased demand for horses suitable for jumping has led to a wider
application of grading with stallions from acknowledged sport breeds.
Study of Sabeva (2009) showed that in terms of body measurements
and development of the bone system, the descendants of the used
Hanoverian stallions signicantly exceeded the mean of the breed.
The aim of the current study is to establish the existence of new
genealogical lines from stallions representing acknowledged sport
breeds which were used in the population for grading of the East
Bulgarian horse.
Material and methods
Subject of the study was to trace genealogical belonging of horses
from the East Bulgarian breed, which on male side descend from the
other sport breed representatives. Genealogical structure develop-
ment was traced by pedigree analyses of 1123 horses, born during
the period from 2000 to 2018. The East Bulgarian Horse Association
set of statistical data, concerning stallions’ breeding activity and pro-
ductive life of their progeny were used.
Results and discussion
Two new lines with founders Da Kapo (GER) and Eistanzer (GER)
were set up during the last four generations:
Line of the Hanoverian stallion Da Kapo (GER) – Devils Own
Da Kapo1977 (Direx1966 and Heidschnucke) was imported from
former East Germany. He originated from the line of thoroughbred
Stallion Devils Own1887 through the branch of the Duel II1959, which
produced horses with exceptionally good sport qualities. Da Kapo
himself had a very successful sports career in Bulgaria as a jump-
er. He produced 36 East Bulgarian foals, including 22 females.
Based on official statistics, 6 of his sons were used for breeding.
Nowadays the line is developing in the second and third genera-
tions after the founder (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Scheme of Line of the Hanoverian stallion Da Kapo (GER) –
Devils Own
*BSH – Bulgarian sport horse; EBH – East Bulgarian horse

196
Line of the Hanoverian stallion Eistanzer (GER) – Adeptus
Eistanzer1985 was imported from Germany and originates from
Eistvogel and mother Pera, the daughter of a renowned in the past stal-
lion Adept. He was one of the most widely used stallions in our country
during the period 1988-2002. Eistanzer gave over 102 foals, 79 (includ-
ing 42 females) of which were representatives of the East Bulgarian
breed. From the male descendants, 7 of his sons were used for grading.
Nowadays, the line develops in second, third and fourth generation after
the founder, through the progeny of Avantaj by Jenniffer (GER), Aden by
Erigona and Argo Men by Membrana (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Scheme of Line of the Hanoverian stallion Eistanzer (GER) –
Adeptus
A characteristic feature of sport horse-breeding at the present stage
of breeds development is that the designation of stallions to a given
breed is made depending on the licensed test they passed through and
sometimes on the willingness of the owner. That is why in the genealog-
ical development schemes there is breed designation of the representa-
tives other than that of the founders, that of the parents or that of the other
ancestors. Genetic plasma from some specialized lines of Hanoverian,
Holsteiner, Trakehner, KWPN, Zangersheide and other breeds has an
international spreading. During the last decades, the large scale imple-
mentation of articial insemination has begun with deep-frozen semen
from world-wide stallions. A few genealogical groups in East Bulgarian
breed with origin from famous founders are set up:
Genealogical group of thoroughbred stallion Ladykiller (GB)
Ladykiller1961 (GB) was born in England out of Lone Beech and fa-
ther Sailing Light from the Fairway line. He was imported to Germany,
where he became one of the leading stallions in the Holsteiner breed.
Ladykiller left behind 35 licensed stallions. His sons, Landgraf I1966 and
Lord1967, had no less contribution to the creation of the modern type of
Holsteiners. Semen from 7 stallions was imported from the branch of
Landgraf I, numerous offspring gave the stallion Limnos (GER). The
East Bulgarians Lafaet2004 (Leonardo(GER) and Tafta from Tigar) and Lord
Primero2008 (Limnos(GER) and Primera from Don Primero) have been
rarely used for breeding during the studied period. The imported stal-
lions Lamar1999 (GER) and Lancelot2001 (GER) were representatives of
the Lord’s branch. From the same branch a deep-frozen plasma was
used from Lord Granus2007 (GER). During the past 11 years 49 horses
from the line took part in breeding tests for young East Bulgarian horses.
Genealogical group thoroughbred stallion Cottage Son (FR)
Cottage Son1944 (FR) originates from mother Wait Not and father
Young Lover from the Dark Ronald’s line. Young Lover is half-sib (by Son-
in-Law) of Tihany, a founder of one of the main lines of the East-Bulgarian
breed. Cottage Son acted in the Holsteiner breed, and his descendants
displayed very good qualities in the military. In Bulgaria the line is repre-
sented through the branch of Capitol I1975 and his sons Calato1987, Cassini
I1988, Cento1988, Cassini II1994 and Concens1994. The imported from Germany
Camargo2001 (GER), Cardinal Lamberto2004 (GER) и Carre2005 (GER) left
behind numerous descendants. From the line 35 horses participated in
the breeding tests for young East Bulgarian horses.
Genealogical group of stallion Cor de la Bryere (FR)
Cor de la Bryere1968 (FR) is the son of the thoroughbred Rantzau
(FR) from the line of Dark Ronald, through the Son-in-Law by branch
of Fox Law. His mother Quenotte, as well as himself, belong to the
Sell Francais breed. Deep-frozen plasma from the branches of the
6 sons of Cor de la Bryere in the Holsteiner breed - Calypso II1974,
Caletto I1975, Caletto II1978, Corrado I1985, Carte Dor1987, Calypso I1989
and stallion Kotrak1997 (GER) was used in the East Bulgarian breed. 32
horses from the line participated in the breeding tests.
Genealogical group of stallion Alme Z (FR)
Alme Z1966 (FR) is a representative of the Sell Francais breed. He
originates from Ibrahim, grandson of the thoroughbred Orange Peel
(the old line St. Saimon) and mother Girondine out of the thoroughbred
granddaughter of Blandford – Ultimate. Alme Z by his descendants has
had signicant inuence on the development of sport horse-breeding in
Europe (420 mares during the period 1971-1990). He is the only stallion
that has produced 2 World and 3 Olympic champions. His licensed sons
founded branches of the line in Zangersheide, Holsteiner, Hanoverian
and others sport breeds. Stallions from the branches of Galobet A1972,
Alexis Z1977, Ahorn Z1979 и Quidam de Ravel1982 were used for the grading
of the East Bulgarian breed (Figure 3). During the period 2006-2018, 23
horses with origin traced to Alme Z participated in the breeding tests for
young East Bulgarian horses.
Figure 3. Scheme of Line of the stallion Alme Z1966 (FR), (Sell Fr.)
*BSH – Bulgarian sport horse; EBH – East Bulgarian horse
*BSH – Bulgarian sport horse; EBH – East Bulgarian horse

197
Conclusion
Two new lines have formed during the last four generation in-
tervals, with the Hanoverian stallions Da Kapo (GER) and Eistanzer
(GER) being the founders. Currently the Da Kapo (GER) line is devel-
oping in second and third generation after the founder. The Eistanzer
(GER) line is developing in fourth generation after the founder. A small
bulk of genealogical groups with origin traced to stallions Ladykiller,
Cottage Son, Cor de la Bryere and Alme Z have developed.
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