Morphological differentiation of bovine and equine hair for species’ identification in forensic veterinary investigations.

This research presents a technique that differentiates between hair of bovines and equines, aiding species identification in forensic investigations. Notably, this is applicable mainly in Cuba, where these species are most bred and prone to poaching and theft crimes.

Methodology

• For this investigation, a total of 30 animals were used, including 15 adult bovines of the “Siboney de Cuba” breed and 15 adult equines of the “Criolla” breed.
• Hair samples from cows were collected from the dorsal, lateral, and ventral regions, while the horses’ hair was sampled from the dorsal region of the body, the mane, and the tail.
• These sample areas, different for both species, were chosen particularly because they represent the diverse types of hairs present in the species being studied.
• It’s cited that both in cattle and horses, hair length and thickness reduces in a dorsal-ventral direction towards the abdomen, hence increasing its density.
• The collected samples were viewed under an optical microscope using different magnification lenses to determine specific physical characteristics like cuticle scales, cortex, medulla, and the medullary index.

Findings

• The investigation uncovered noticeable morphological and histomorphometric patterns in the bovine and equine hair, rooted in the characteristics of their constitutive structures: cuticle scales, cortex, and medulla.
• The differentiating characteristics noted for bovine hair include a thin cuticle, coronal scales arranged in a mosaic with serrated and flat edges.
• In equines, the cuticle was found to be thin and layered with irregular waves and intermediate spaces.
• The investigation found that the cortex in bovines is thin, dark brown and not pigmented; in equines, the cortex is dark brown with a light texture and contains isolated dark brown and black pigments.
• In both species, it was observed that white hairs are not pigmented.

Significance

• The study highlights the role of the medullary index in species identification in forensic analyses, as it allows differentiation between animal and human species.
• It was shown that bovine hair had an average medullary index of 0.60, whereas equine hair exhibited an average medullary index of 0.49.
• This differentiation method can be instrumental in forensic veterinary investigations, especially in regions where these species are commonly bred and subjected to crimes like poaching and theft.