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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(6); doi: 10.3390/ani9060298

The Frequency of Errors in Determining Age Based on Selected Features of the Incisors of Icelandic Horses.

Abstract: The structure and changes occurring to horses' teeth during ontogeny are not only used to assess the degree of somatic maturity but also the development of universal patterns and is therefore used to determine the age of horses. Research shows that methods of assessing the age of horses based on the appearance of teeth tend to suffer from relatively large errors. This is probably influenced by the results of intensive selection and being kept in living conditions that differ substantially from their natural environment. This study aimed to assess the suitability of selected features of the incisors to determine the age of Icelandic horses. One hundred and twenty-six Icelandic horses (78 mares and 48 stallions) of different ages (range: 0-24 years; groups: 0-2 years, >2-5 years, >5-11 years, and >11 years) were examined by an experienced horse person who was blinded to the actual age of the horse and did not know which age group horses were in. Age was determined by the inspection of each horse's teeth and was compared to the actual age of the horse recorded in the breeding documentation, and the percentage of mistakes made regarding the age group was calculated. The estimated age did not match the real age in 36.5% of the horses. The age was more often underestimated (19.0%) by, on average, 0.9 ± 1.0 years than overestimated (17.5%) by, on average, 1.3 ± 1.4 years. Within age groups, the least number of errors in determining age were made in young horses aged 0-2 years, when the eruption and growing of the deciduous incisors and the disappearance of the cups was considered. The average percentage of errors in this group (2.1%) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than for older horses, whose age was estimated based on the exchange of deciduous to permanent teeth (55.8%), disappearance of the cups (68.0%), and shape changes on the grinding surface (40.0%). Significantly more frequent underestimation of age based on replacing deciduous for permanent incisors and significantly more frequent overestimation of age on the basis of the disappearance of the cup may indicate that Icelandic horses up to 5 years of age are characterized by a slower rate of growth than horses of other breeds, especially warmblood horses. These results suggest that patterns used to determine the real age of horses based on changes occurring on the incisors should be modified in order to consider the specificity of the course of growth and maturation processes of horses of various types and breeds.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-30 PubMed ID: 31151265PubMed Central: PMC6617252DOI: 10.3390/ani9060298Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The study evaluates the accuracy of estimating a horse’s age based on their teeth, specifically focusing on Icelandic horses. It found that such estimations often deviate from the actual age, with age often being underestimated or overestimated.

Objective of the Study

  • The research was conducted to assess the accuracy of determining a horse’s age based on the physical features of their incisors. Icelandic horses were the focus of the study.

Methodology

  • The study involved 126 Icelandic horses of varying ages, divided into four age groups.
  • An experienced horse person, unaware of the horses’ actual ages, examined each horse’s teeth and estimated their age.
  • The estimated ages were then compared to the actual ages documented in the horse’s breeding documentation.

Findings

  • The study found that around 36.5% of the age estimates were not accurate.
  • The ages were more frequently underestimated (at 19.0%) than overestimated (at 17.5%).
  • The least number of estimation errors were made within the 0-2 years age group.
  • The study also found that there was a higher frequency of underestimation of age when the method considered replacing of deciduous for permanent incisors. Overestimation, on the other hand, was more common when the disappearance of the “cup” in the incisor was used as a basis for age.

Implications and Recommendations

  • The study suggests that Icelandic horses may have a slower growth rate up to the age of 5 compared to other breeds. This could explain the higher frequency of underestimations.
  • The researchers recommend reconsidering the patterns used to determine a horse’s age by taking into account the specific growth and maturation processes of different horse types and breeds.

Cite This Article

APA
Łuszczyński J, Pieszka M, Petrych W, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M. (2019). The Frequency of Errors in Determining Age Based on Selected Features of the Incisors of Icelandic Horses. Animals (Basel), 9(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9060298

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 6

Researcher Affiliations

Łuszczyński, Jarosław
  • Department of Horse Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural University, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Cracow, Poland. jaroslaw.luszczynski@urk.edu.pl.
Pieszka, Magdalena
  • Department of Horse Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural University, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Cracow, Poland. magdalena.pieszka@urk.edu.pl.
Petrych, Weronika
  • Department of Horse Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural University, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Cracow, Poland. punktur.weronika@gmail.com.
Stefaniuk-Szmukier, Monika
  • Department of Horse Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural University, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Cracow, Poland. monika.stefaniuk-szmukier@urk.edu.pl.

Grant Funding

  • 3257/ZHK/2018 / Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The sponsors had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Gudea AI, Bârcă V, Irimie A, Martonos CO, Socaciu A. La Tène Horse Remains from Alba Iulia CX 143 Complex: A Whole Story to Tell. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 30;14(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14111624pubmed: 38891671google scholar: lookup
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