Morphometric characteristics of horses from defined breeds and without defined breed at the region of Araçatuba, SP

Abstract

The horses used by small farmers are mostly breed less. The zoometric evaluation compared to defined breeds can predict inherited traits over generations. The present experiment zoometric evaluation were compared among defined races Mangalarga Marchador (ML) and Quarter Horses (QH) with equines without breed (EWB) of small producers at Araçatuba region, SP it was. Aimed to meet and guide possible crossbreeding horses EWB in order to make them suitable for the desired function. Morphometric measurements were performed in 30 horses in each group, totaling 20 measurements. The data were pooled and expressed as average and standard deviation, subjected to analysis of variance (Tukey test, 5%; and test of normality) and Kruskal-Wallis (nonparametric; variables that have not passed the test of normality). For some variables such weight, heart girth and hip width EWB group had shorter (P<0.05) when in comparison to QH and ML groups. Body indices (BI) and conformation (CI) indicated EWR group are medium-linear and had lower (P<0.05) conformation index (1.98 ± 0,24) in comparison to QH (2.30 ± 0.12) and ML group (2.17 ± 0.17), demonstrating inadequacy conformation for saddle or traction features.

Keywords

• éguas
• Mangalarga Marchador
• morfometria
• Quarto-de-Milha