Growth rates in Thoroughbred horses are considered in several studies, while available data regarding Trotters are few. A survey was carried out in stud farms of Thoroughbreds (TB) and Italian Trotters (IT) in Northern Italy, to assess growth and development of young horses over a prolonged period. The following body measures were recorded from birth to 18 (IT) and 20 (TB) months of age: withers height; hip height; body length; hearth girth; cannon bone girth; body weight. 45 TB (24 colts and 21 fillies) and 77 IT (41 colts and 36 fillies) were measured. Herd management conditions were investigated: vaccinations, anthelmintic treatments, feeding, housing and pasture management. With a linear model the significance of the following factors was tested: stud farm nested within breed; breed; year of birth; month of birth; sex; age class. Until 18 months of age, no significant difference was found between colts and fillies of the same breed regarding withers height and hearth girth. In comparison with TB foals raised in USA, body weight and withers height of the Italian TB in the first month of life are lower than those of foals bred in Kentucky, similar to those of TB bred in Florida. Compared to TB foals, in the first month of life IT are taller, heavier, with a wider hearth girth. Season of mare’s parturition (winter versus spring) doesn’t seem to affect foal birth weight.
Growth rates in Thoroughbred and Trotter horses raised in Italy / Martuzzi, Francesca; VACCARI SIMONINI, Franca; Sabbioni, Alberto; Catalano, Antonio Lucio. - 13:(2007), pp. 289-289. (Intervento presentato al convegno 58th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production tenutosi a Dublin, Ireland nel 26-29 August 2007).
Growth rates in Thoroughbred and Trotter horses raised in Italy
MARTUZZI, Francesca;VACCARI SIMONINI, Franca;SABBIONI, Alberto;CATALANO, Antonio Lucio
2007-01-01
Abstract
Growth rates in Thoroughbred horses are considered in several studies, while available data regarding Trotters are few. A survey was carried out in stud farms of Thoroughbreds (TB) and Italian Trotters (IT) in Northern Italy, to assess growth and development of young horses over a prolonged period. The following body measures were recorded from birth to 18 (IT) and 20 (TB) months of age: withers height; hip height; body length; hearth girth; cannon bone girth; body weight. 45 TB (24 colts and 21 fillies) and 77 IT (41 colts and 36 fillies) were measured. Herd management conditions were investigated: vaccinations, anthelmintic treatments, feeding, housing and pasture management. With a linear model the significance of the following factors was tested: stud farm nested within breed; breed; year of birth; month of birth; sex; age class. Until 18 months of age, no significant difference was found between colts and fillies of the same breed regarding withers height and hearth girth. In comparison with TB foals raised in USA, body weight and withers height of the Italian TB in the first month of life are lower than those of foals bred in Kentucky, similar to those of TB bred in Florida. Compared to TB foals, in the first month of life IT are taller, heavier, with a wider hearth girth. Season of mare’s parturition (winter versus spring) doesn’t seem to affect foal birth weight.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
