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That's actually a reasonably balanced article. Genetic testing in thoroughbred horses is just another tool amongst the many other ways of looking at the breedin

That's actually a reasonably balanced article. Genetic testing in thoroughbred horses is just another tool amongst the many other ways of looking at the breeding equation. However, the Equinome test is starting to make an impact in British and Irish racing. It is well known that the British 2000 Guineas winner this year, Galileo Gold, was not entered for the longer Epsom Derby because he tested as CC, rather than the CT thought to be omptimum for the distance. This is perhaps the first published occasion a genetic test has resulted in a trainer not entering his horse for a specific race, and a classic at that. We work closely with Byron from Performance Genetics, mentioned in the article, when buying yearlings. Byron uses a very wide range of tests, not just of the genetic variety, but also analytical data analysis, when making a determination of a horse's potential ability. Nonetheless, we have a number of other criteria to initially narrow the pool of horses we want to test. We also place value on the visual physical attributes of the horse. Lastly, it is worth keeping in mind which horses are most valuable in a commercial sense. Even after all the testing, it is no guarantee the horse will perform at the highest level. Rather the testing is about creating an edge over other buyers. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind which horses will continue to have residual value in the market. It is better to take a risk on a popular sire, than an unfashionable one, unless of course the initial purchase price is also just as unfashionable.

WalterBright 10y ago
I know there's lots of money involved, but breeding faster (and better visual physical attributes) horses is ultimately uninteresting and pointless. What would be much more interesting would be to do things like breed smarter dogs.
- gwern 10y ago
  Breeding smarter dogs is not interesting because after a certain point, the intelligence becomes a problem. Not just things like octopuses eating all the fish in your aquarium but escaping, or going insane from boredom and inactivity and becoming destructive. This is already an issue with border collies, among the most intelligent of dog breeds. Why would you want to make the problem worse? If you want to breed any species for intelligence, breed humans - at least there it's useful.
  - WalterBright 10y ago
    What is the issue with intelligent border collies? Wouldn't a more intelligent dog make a better companion? Just keep them away from the internet so they cannot plot an uprising with the other dogs.
    - dexwiz 10y ago
      They get bored easily, and boredom leads to destruction. Herding dogs need to be worked regularly.
      - WalterBright 10y ago
        If dogs are bred to herd, it seems reasonable that there'd be trouble if they aren't herding. But many dogs know several hundred words. I hypothesize that with breeding this could be increased substantially. Perhaps even sentences. I'm not convinced that would cause them to be destructive.
        gwern 10y ago
        > If dogs are bred to herd, it seems reasonable that there'd be trouble if they aren't herding. Chimpanzees aren't bred to herd but are at least as intelligent, and keeping them in captivity is even more problematic than border collies: neurotic, destructive, difficult to keep safely contained, super expensive to 'retire' and care for. Which is one reason that countries like the USA have been trying to phase out primate research as much as possible.
        WalterBright 10y ago
        Keeping intelligent creatures like chimps in cages for life is abusive and clearly wrong. If we create intelligent dogs, treating them in a manner consistent with their intelligence comes with the territory.
        gwern 10y ago

WalterBright 10y ago

I know there's lots of money involved, but breeding faster (and better visual physical attributes) horses is ultimately uninteresting and pointless. What would be much more interesting would be to do things like breed smarter dogs.

gwern 10y ago
Breeding smarter dogs is not interesting because after a certain point, the intelligence becomes a problem. Not just things like octopuses eating all the fish in your aquarium but escaping, or going insane from boredom and inactivity and becoming destructive. This is already an issue with border collies, among the most intelligent of dog breeds. Why would you want to make the problem worse? If you want to breed any species for intelligence, breed humans - at least there it's useful.
- WalterBright 10y ago
  What is the issue with intelligent border collies? Wouldn't a more intelligent dog make a better companion? Just keep them away from the internet so they cannot plot an uprising with the other dogs.
  - dexwiz 10y ago
    They get bored easily, and boredom leads to destruction. Herding dogs need to be worked regularly.
    - WalterBright 10y ago
      If dogs are bred to herd, it seems reasonable that there'd be trouble if they aren't herding. But many dogs know several hundred words. I hypothesize that with breeding this could be increased substantially. Perhaps even sentences. I'm not convinced that would cause them to be destructive.
      - gwern 10y ago
        > If dogs are bred to herd, it seems reasonable that there'd be trouble if they aren't herding. Chimpanzees aren't bred to herd but are at least as intelligent, and keeping them in captivity is even more problematic than border collies: neurotic, destructive, difficult to keep safely contained, super expensive to 'retire' and care for. Which is one reason that countries like the USA have been trying to phase out primate research as much as possible.
        WalterBright 10y ago
        Keeping intelligent creatures like chimps in cages for life is abusive and clearly wrong. If we create intelligent dogs, treating them in a manner consistent with their intelligence comes with the territory.
        gwern 10y ago