Abstract / Summary
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a prevalent hereditary orthopedic disorder in which phenotypic selection often fails to identify silent genetic carriers, leading to stagnant genetic trends. This study aimed to obtain heritability estimate (h²) of CHD in Rottweiler and Golden Retriever populations in Perú to evaluate the potential for genetic improvement within the national registry. A Bayesian threshold animal model was applied to pedigree and radiographic records of 383 dogs (146 Rottweilers and 237 Golden Retrievers) evaluated between 2014 and 2024 by the Kennel Club del Perú. The h² (mean ± standard deviation) for CHD status (binary trait) were 0.50±0.25 for Rottweilers and 0.59±0.19 for Golden Retrievers. These high h² values indicate that a substantial proportion of phenotypic variation is driven by additive genetic effects, exceeding estimates reported in several international populations. The results suggest that the current lack of progress is not due to low genetic variance but to the limitations of mass selection. We conclude that implementing selection programs based on estimated breeding values is essential to achieve a faster reduction in the prevalence of CHD and improve the long-term welfare of these breeds in Perú.