| Abstract: | Percentile growth curves are often used as a clinical indicator to evaluate variations ofchildren’s growth status. In this study, we propose empirical percentile growth curvesusing Z-scores adapted for Japanese Thoroughbred horses, with considerations of theseasonal compensatory growth that is a typical characteristic of seasonal breedinganimals. We previously developed new growth curve equations for Japanese Thoroughbredsadjusting for compensatory growth. Individual horses and residual effects were included asrandom effects in the growth curve equation model and their variance components wereestimated. Based on the Z-scores of the estimated variance components, empiricalpercentile growth curves were constructed. A total of 5,594 and 5,680 body weight and agemeasurements of male and female Thoroughbreds, respectively, and 3,770 withers height andage measurements were used in the analyses. The developed empirical percentile growthcurves using Z-scores are computationally feasible and useful for monitoring individualgrowth parameters of body weight and withers height of young Thoroughbred horses,especially during compensatory growth periods. |
