Conference paper
EXTERIOR FEATURES OF CROATIAN AUTOCHTONOUS HORSE BREEDS
Ante Ivanković
; Zavod za specijalno stočarstvo, Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu,Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska
Pavo Caput
; Zavod za specijalno stočarstvo, Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu,Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska
Abstract
Croatian cold-blooded breeds make the most numerous breed group of horses in Croatia. Their systematic breeding started in the 19th century in Međimurje and then it spread to Podravina, Posavina and parts of Slavonia. They were bred on the then horse population 'busak" which, depending on the climate, was differently, conformationally and genetically, profiled. With the aim of improving the conformation of the then "busak', during the 20th century, quality stallions of heavy European horse breeds were imported, primarily of Noric (the Noriker), Percheron and Belgian blood, which were used for „improving“ the existing population. The Posavina horse and the Croatian Coldblood have remained in the marginal pasture areas in a small number which demands constant monitoring. The Murinsulaner horse population has been reduced to thirty heads, due to which a careful following and occasional purposeful introduction of related „fresh blood“ is necessary. The research included 378 horses (214 Posavina horses, 146 Croatian Coldblood and 18 Murinsulaner horses). Several methods were used Lydtin stick, measuring tape and photometry. The population of the Posavina horse includes a small variability of conformation features, mostly conditioned by the breeding area. In the Croatian Coldblood population two breed types have been observed, which as such should be separately studied and supported in breeding. ln the first type, the trace of a hundred-year improvement of the original population with the European breeds of heavy horses has been observed and it has a bigger body frame, rougher head and stronger bone base. The second type of the Croatian Coldblood is a little lighter, bl a smaller head and smaller body frame. The Murinsulaner horse is in the stage of a breeding consolidation, and its limiting factor is a small effective population size.
Keywords
autochthonous breeds; coldblooded horse; Croatia; body measurements; correlation
Hrčak ID:
164594
URI
Publication date:
25.3.2004.
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