THE EFFECT OF BREED AND SEX ON THE BODY CONFORMATION OF BARB, ARABIAN-BARB, AND ARABIAN HORSES IN ALGERIA
N. Kacem, D. Benabdelmoumene, S. Dahmouni and A. Mouats
Applied Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis of Mostaganem, PO. Box 188, 27000, Algeria.
Corresponding author’s email: nacera.kacem@univ-mascara.dz
ABSTRACT
The preservation of genetic diversity in Algerian horse breeds is essential for their effective conservation and utilization. However, a current lack of knowledge about their diversity and genetics presents a significant challenge. This study aims to characterize the morphological features of three principal horse breeds in Algeria: Barb, Arabian-Barb, and Purebred Arab. We measured 26 morphological traits, calculated live weight and eight body indices, and evaluated three qualitative parameters: coat color, muzzle shape, and cephalic profile. Average values for these measurements were computed for each breed. We assessed the significance of these averages using multi-factor ANOVA and compared them using the Newman-Keuls homogeneity test with SAS software. The results reveal distinct morphological characteristics for each breed. The Barb breed has a distance between the internal angles of the eyes of 17.27 cm, a neck length of 63.46 cm, a leg length of 38 cm, an average withers height of 154.2 cm, a live weight of 429 kg, a thoracic perimeter of 175.85 cm, and a compactness index of 2.80. The Purebred Arab displays a distance between the internal angles of the eyes of 18.5 cm, a neck length of 59.5 cm, a leg length of 40.01 cm, an average withers height of 150.3 cm, a live weight of 377.64 kg, a thoracic perimeter of 162.8 cm, and a compactness index of 2.44. The Arabian-Barb breed, a result of crossbreeding, is highly heterogeneous and combines desirable traits from both parent breeds. A significant influence of sex was noted on the height at the withers (p<0.05), with males generally taller than females, who present wider chests and larger lower leg circumferences.
Keywords: horses; index; live weight; morphometric traits. |