Genetic parameters of some traits of stallions evaluated for performance by training centres during 1977-2000

Studies on genetic parameters that describe performance traits of stallions managed in Training Centres are of great importance, since they allow breeders to rationally design their breeding programmes. The outcomes of such studies also include breeding methods that are adequate for an improvement of traits which are of different heritability or which have different coefficients of correlation between them. As an effect of evaluated stallions will be significant over the decades to follow, the studies we have performed are important in terms of both theory and practice. The study covered performance test records of 2825 stallions tested in Training Centres in 1977-2000. Heritability estimates for the selected traits evaluated during performance tests were estimated with the REML method. The recorded values ranged from 0.09, for the pulse rate, to an exceptionally high record for dressage, as judged by foreign riders, reaching 0.95.