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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Anim Sci / Multivariate analysis of morphometric traits of the horse ec...
Veterinary and animal science2024; 25; 100391; doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100391

Multivariate analysis of morphometric traits of the horse ecotypes reared in highlands of Bale Zone, Ethiopia.

Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate morphometric traits of horse ecotypes reared in four districts of the Bale highlands, southeastern Ethiopia. Twenty-seven morphometric traits were measured from 500 horses (294 males and 206 females) of both sexes. Data were analyzed using SAS 2012. This study revealed that certain traits, such as head length, loin length, bi-ischial width, and sternum height of horses were similar. However, significant differences ( < 0.0001, < 0.01, < 0.05) were observed in other traits across the districts. All traits were affected by age ( < 0.05) except rump width and canon perimeter. All 27 morphometric traits were subjected to STEPDISC analysis, of which 21 had the best discriminating power. The uppermost distances of 32.2 and, 28.8 were reported between the Agarfa and Dinsho and, Agarfa and Sinana horse populations, respectively. Mean separation distance among districts ranges from -1.75 to 3.57, -2.42 to 2.43, and -1.61 to 0.92 for CAN1, CAN2 and CAN3, respectively. The quadratic discriminate function classified 95.2, 94.4, 96.0, and 96.8 % of the sampled horses into source populations of the Dinsho, Agarfa, Sinana, and Goba districts, respectively. In addition, the cross-validation summary revealed reduced consistency of membership among each districts with 5 % average success rates and 4, 8, 4, and 4 % for the Dinsho, Agarfa, Sinana, and Goba districts, respectively. Therefore, the presence of variation in morphometric traits within the Bale Highland horse ecotypes has the potential for selection and further genetic interventions.
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-22 PubMed ID: 39280772PubMed Central: PMC11399705DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100391Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the different physical characteristics of horse types found in four regions of the Bale highlands in Ethiopia. The study found that certain physical traits were common among the horses, but others varied significantly, providing potential opportunities for selective breeding and genetic interventions.

Study Design and Objectives

  • The study set out to evaluate what are termed as ‘morphometric traits’ – essentially physical characteristics – of different types, or ‘ecotypes’, of horses in the Bale Highland region of Ethiopia.
  • The objective was to better understand the physical diversity of the horse population in these regions and identify potential opportunity for selective breeding or other genetic interventions.

Methods and Procedures

  • The research team studied a total of 500 horses of both sexes in four districts, measuring 27 different physical traits ranging from head length to sternum height.
  • The data collected from these physical measurements were statistically analyzed using SAS 2012 software to determine any significant variations.

Findings and Conclusions

  • While certain morphometric traits like head length, loin length, bi-ischial width, and sternum height were found to be similar across the horse population, others showed significant differences.
  • The study also found that nearly all physical traits were influenced by the age of the horse, save for rump width and canon perimeter.
  • The analysis aimed to categorize, or ‘discriminate’ traits, and found that 21 out of the 27 measured traits had the most power to distinguish different horse populations.
  • The analysis also predicted how likely the horses of each district were to belong to their source population. High percentages of 95.2%, 94.4%, 96.0%, and 96.8% for the Dinsho, Agarfa, Sinana, and Goba district horses were reported, respectively, however, cross-validation revealed slightly reduced consistency.
  • Consequently, the researchers concluded that the variation in physical traits within the Bale Highland horse population offers potential opportunities for selection and genetic enhancement interventions.

Cite This Article

APA
Guyo M, Tareke M, Tonamo A, Bediye D, Defar G. (2024). Multivariate analysis of morphometric traits of the horse ecotypes reared in highlands of Bale Zone, Ethiopia. Vet Anim Sci, 25, 100391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2024.100391

Publication

Veterinary and animal science
ISSN: 2451-943X
NlmUniqueID: 101694897
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 25
Pages: 100391
PII: 100391

Researcher Affiliations

Guyo, Mesay
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Madda Walabu University, P.O. Box. 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia.
Tareke, Melaku
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Madda Walabu University, P.O. Box. 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia.
Tonamo, Andualem
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Madda Walabu University, P.O. Box. 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia.
Bediye, Diriba
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Madda Walabu University, P.O. Box. 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia.
Defar, Girma
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Madda Walabu University, P.O. Box. 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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