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Morphological diversities and ecozones of Ethiopian horse populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2012

E. Kefena ,
T. Dessie ,
J.L. Han ,
M.Y. Kurtu ,
S. Rosenbom  and
A. Beja-Pereira
E. Kefena*
Affiliation:
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
T. Dessie
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
J.L. Han
Affiliation:
CAAS-ILRI Joint Laboratory on Livestock and Forage Genetic Resources (JLLFGR), Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, P.R. China
M.Y. Kurtu
Affiliation:
Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
S. Rosenbom
Affiliation:
Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), University of Porto, Campus Agrario de vairao, Rua Padre Armando, Quintas 7, Porto, Portugal
A. Beja-Pereira
Affiliation:
Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), University of Porto, Campus Agrario de vairao, Rua Padre Armando, Quintas 7, Porto, Portugal
*
Correspondence to: Kefena Effa, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. email: kefenaol@yahoo.com
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Summary

Using standard survey approaches, we carried out a nationwide survey to morphologically characterize and identify ecozones of Ethiopian horse populations. Accordingly, we explored one new feral horse population previously unreported and seven other distinct horse populations. A total of 17 selected morphological variables were recorded on 503 horses (293 stallions and 210 mares) that belong to five out of eight identified horse populations. Pair-wise multiple mean comparisons (PMMC) using one-way analysis of variance and multivariate analyses were performed separately for each sex and least-squares means was used in the case of aggregated sexes. Results of PMMC showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the means for most of the variables recorded. Principal component analysis showed that height at wither, height at back, height at rump, body length, back length and barrel length jointly account for about 80 percent of the variations. All squared Mahalanobis distance between populations were significant (P < 0.01). The greatest phenotypic divergence was observed between Bale and Selale horse populations and the least phenotypic divergence was between Horro and Kafa populations. Canonical discriminant function analysis showed that 77.05 percent of individuals were correctly categorized into their respective populations. Moreover, cluster analysis based on squared Mahalanobis distances grouped the five measured Ethiopian horse populations into three major breed groups and five distinct horse populations.

Résumé

Nous avons réalisé une enquête sur l'ensemble du territoire pour caractériser morphologiquement les populations de chevaux éthiopiens et pour en identifier les écozones en utilisant des méthodes d'enquêtes standardisées. Par conséquent, nous avons étudié une nouvelle population marronisée de chevaux qui n'avait pas été déclarée auparavant et sept autres populations distinctes. Au total, nous avons enregistré 17 variables morphologiques sélectionnées de 503 chevaux (293 étalons et 210 juments) qui appartiennent à cinq des huit populations identifiées. Des comparaisons multiples moyennes par paires en utilisant des analyses de variance simple et des analyses multivariables ont été réalisées séparément pour chaque sexe tandis que la moyenne des moindres carrés a été utilisée pour l'étude des deux sexes agrégés. Les résultats des comparaisons ont indiqué des différences significatives (P < 0.05) entre les moyennes pour la plupart des variables enregistrées. L'analyse en composantes principales a montré que la hauteur au garrot, au dos et à la croupe, et la longueur du tronc, du dos et du ventre expliquaient ensemble environ 80 pourcent des variations. Toutes les distances carrées de Mahalanobis entre les populations étaient considérables (P < 0.01). La divergence phénotypique la plus importante a été observée entre les populations de chevaux Bale et Selale et la plus faible entre les populations Horro et Kafa. L'analyse canonique discriminante a indiqué que 77.05 pourcent des animaux avaient été classés correctement dans les populations respectives. De plus, l'analyse typologique basée sur les distances de Mahalanobis a regroupé les cinq populations mesurées de chevaux éthiopiens dans trois groupes principaux de races et dans trois populations distinctes de chevaux.

Resumen

Utilizando un enfoque de encuestas estándar, se llevó a cabo una encuesta a nivel nacional para caracterizar morfológicamente e identificar las ecozonas de las poblaciones equinas caballares de Etiopía. Como consecuencia, se ha estudiado una nueva población de caballos asilvestrados no investigada con anterioridad y otras siete poblaciones de caballos diferentes. Se estudió un total de diecisiete variables morfológicas en 503 caballos (293 sementales y 210 yeguas), pertenecientes a cinco de las ocho poblaciones equinas caballares identificadas. Las comparaciones múltiples entre medias por pares (PMMC por sus siglas en inglés), utilizando un modelo lineal y análisis multivariantes, se realizaron por separado para cada sexo y los mínimos cuadrados medios se utilizaron en el caso de los sexos agregados. Los resultados del PMMC mostraron que existían diferencias significativas (P < 0.05) entre las medias de la mayoría de las variables estudiadas. El análisis de los componentes principales mostró que la altura a la cruz, la altura al dorso, la altura a la grupa, longitud corporal, la longitud dorsal y la longitud ventral en conjunto representaban alrededor del 80 percent de las variaciones. Todas las distancias de Mahalanobis al cuadrado entre las poblaciones fueron significativas (P < 0.01). Las mayores diferencias fenotípicas fueron observadas entre las poblaciones equinas caballares de Bale y Selale y las menores entre las poblaciones Horro y Kafa. La función del análisis canónico discriminante mostró que el 77.05 percent de los individuos fueron clasificados correctamente dentro de sus respectivas poblaciones. Por otra parte, el análisis de agrupamiento, basado en las distancias de Mahalanobis al cuadrado, agrupó las cinco poblaciones equinas caballares estudiadas de Etiopía en tres grandes grupos y en cinco poblaciones de caballos diferentes.

Keywords

ecozoneshorse populationferal horsesmorphological diversitymorphological variablesécozonespopulation de chevauxchevaux marronisésdiversité morphologiquevariables morphologiquesecozonaspoblación equina caballarcaballos asilvestradosdiversidad morfológicavariables morfológicas
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 50 , June 2012 , pp. 1 - 12
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2012

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