Conformation evaluation in horses of the Eastern- Sayan ecotype of Buryat breed

Abstract

Results are given from investigations on evaluating conformation of horses of the Eastern-Sayan ecotype of Buryat breed inhabiting the Eastern Sayan Mountain in the Republic of Buryatia at a height of 1800 m above sea level. There were studied live weight measurements, conformation and color indices, and reproductive ability characteristics of mares. It is shown that stallions and mares of this ecotype yield to Altaian, Buryat, Priobsky, Tuvinian and Khakass horse breeds in withers height, oblique body length, and live weight on the average. However, these animals have adaptive mechanisms to highland habitat conditions: data on circumferences of chest and metacarpus indicate the superiority of these indicators in the horses studied as compared with horses of the other populations. Close relationship was found between body weight and withers height (r = 0.64), chest circumference (r = 0.50), and metacarpus circumference (r = 0.49). Most horses have bay, red, palomino, and pied colors with bay color prevailed (26.8%). The average fertility of mares was 89.6% at 100-percent foaling. The number of non-fertilized mares was 10.4%. The foals at birth had their live weight of 33-42 kg. The safety of foals at 12 months of age made up 90%. More experienced mares were characterized by high fecundity and the young stock by survival ability when kept on pasture all year round.