Estimation of the liveweight and body condition of working donkeys in Morocco.
Abstract: The age, sex, liveweight and body measurements (heart girth, umbilical girth, height, length from elbow to tuber ischii and circumference of the foreleg cannon bone) of 516 donkeys used to transport goods in Morocco were recorded. There were few donkeys over 12 years of age. For adult donkeys weighing from 74 to 252 kg, the best equation with only one variable for predicting liveweight was: liveweight (kg) = heart girth (cm)2.65/2188. The inclusion of two variables improved the prediction marginally, but the addition of further variables gave little further improvement. The best prediction equation for adult donkeys was: liveweight (kg) = (heart girth [cm]2.12 x length [cm]0.688)/380. For donkeys under three years of age, weighing from 52 to 128 kg, the best prediction equation was: liveweight (kg) = (umbilical girth [cm]1.41 x length [cm]1.09)/1000. Other liveweight prediction equations for donkeys and horses were tested on the data and tended to overestimate the weight of these working donkeys. A subjective method for assessing the body condition of the donkeys was developed, using a scale from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese).
Publication Date: 1996-03-09 PubMed ID: 8686139DOI: 10.1136/vr.138.10.229Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article discusses how the physical measurements of working donkeys in Morocco can help predict their body weight and condition, using specific mathematical formulas.
Introduction and Study Parameters
- The study gathered data on various physiological attributes of 516 donkeys employed for goods transportation in Morocco. Measurements taken included heart girth, umbilical girth, height, length (from the elbow to the ischium, part of the pelvis), and the circumference of the foreleg cannon bone.
- It was noted that donkeys over 12 years old were not common in the sample. The study also made a distinction between adult donkeys and those under three years. Adult donkeys were separated into individual category weights ranging from 74 kg to 252 kg, whereas the younger donkeys tested weighed between 52 kg to 128 kg.
Equations for Predicting Liveweight
- The research established mathematical formulas to predict a donkey’s liveweight based on their physical measurements. For adult donkeys, the most accurate single variable equation used the heart girth: liveweight (kg) = heart girth (cm)ˆ2.65/2188.
- An improvement in weight prediction was seen with the inclusion of another variable, but the addition of any more variables past that did not significantly improve the precision.
- For improved prediction, the best equation for adult donkeys incorporated the heart girth and body length: liveweight (kg) = (heart girth [cm]ˆ2.12 × length [cm]ˆ0.688)/380.
- For donkeys under three years of age, the best prediction equation was: liveweight (kg) = (umbilical girth [cm]ˆ1.41 × length [cm]ˆ1.09)/1000.
- Several other equations generally used for predicting horse and donkey weights were also tested, but they were observed to overestimate the liveweight of the working donkeys.
Assessing Donkey Condition
- The study also generated a simple visual method of assessing the donkeys’ physical condition.
- A scale of 1 to 9 was used, where 1 represented an emaciated donkey and 9 indicated an obese one. This method provides a subjective but straightforward tool for gauging a donkey’s health, making use of the understanding and experience of the people involved in day-to-day care and management of the animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Pearson RA, Ouassat M.
(1996).
Estimation of the liveweight and body condition of working donkeys in Morocco.
Vet Rec, 138(10), 229-233.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.138.10.229 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Constitution
- Body Weight
- Equidae
- Health Status
- Morocco
- Reference Values
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Zhang Z, Huang B, Wang Y, Zhu M, Liu G, Wang C. A survey report on the donkey original breeding farms in China: Current aspects and future prospective.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1126138.
- Gichure M, Onono J, Wahome R, Gathura P. Assessment of Phenotypic Characteristics and Work Suitability for Working Donkeys in the Central Highlands in Kenya.. Vet Med Int 2020;2020:8816983.
- Raftery AG, Jallow S, Coultous RM, Rodgers J, Sutton DGM. Variation in disease phenotype is marked in equine trypanosomiasis.. Parasit Vectors 2020 Mar 21;13(1):148.
- Raftery AG, Jallow S, Rodgers J, Sutton DGM. Safety and efficacy of three trypanocides in confirmed field cases of trypanosomiasis in working equines in The Gambia: a prospective, randomised, non-inferiority trial.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Mar;13(3):e0007175.
- Nininahazwe PC, Sow A, Roamba RC, Kalandi M, Ahmed HD, Ouédraogo GA, Sawadogo GJ. West African donkey's liveweight estimation using body measurements.. Vet World 2017 Oct;10(10):1221-1226.
- Valle E, Raspa F, Giribaldi M, Barbero R, Bergagna S, Antoniazzi S, Mc Lean AK, Minero M, Cavallarin L. A functional approach to the body condition assessment of lactating donkeys as a tool for welfare evaluation.. PeerJ 2017;5:e3001.
- Geiger M, Hovorka AJ. Using physical and emotional parameters to assess donkey welfare in Botswana.. Vet Rec Open 2015;2(1):e000062.
- Laus F, Spaterna A, Faillace V, Veronesi F, Ravagnan S, Beribé F, Cerquetella M, Meligrana M, Tesei B. Clinical investigation on Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in Italian donkeys.. BMC Vet Res 2015 Apr 28;11:100.
- Olaifa F, Ayo JO, Ambali SF, Rekwot PI, Minka NS. Rectal temperature responses of donkeys administered with ascorbic acid and subjected to load carrying (packing) during the harmattan season in Nigeria.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2013 Feb;45(2):473-7.
- de Aluja AS, Tapia Pérez G, López F, Pearson RA. Live weight estimation of donkeys in central Mexico from measurement of thoracic circumference.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2005 Nov;37 Suppl 1:159-71.
- Carretero-Roque L, Colunga B, Smith DG, González-Ronquillo M, Solis-Mendez A, Castelán-Ortega O. Digestible energy requirements of Mexican donkeys fed oat straw and maize stover.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2005 Nov;37 Suppl 1:123-42.
- Pearson RA, Dijkman JT, Krecek RC, Wright P. Effect of density and weight of load on the energy cost of carrying loads by donkeys and ponies.. Trop Anim Health Prod 1998 Feb;30(1):67-78.
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