Development of the body size in stallions of selected Bohemian-Moravian Belgian horse, Silesian Noriker and Noriker breeds in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the basic body measurements (stick height at withers - KVH, tape height at withers - KVP, chest perimeter - OHR, shin perimeter - OHOL) from data available from the 40th years of the 20th century in the Bohemian- Moravian Belgian horse, Silesian Noriker and Noriker breeds. The evaluation included a total of 1,080 stallions aged 2-3 years, used in mating and breeding. Processing and evaluation of a data set was done using Microsoft Office Excel and the statistical program SAS 9.3. Numerous statistically significant differences were found among the evaluated breeds (P < 0.05 to 0.01). The highest values of KVH, KVP and OHR were achieved by stallions of Bohemian-Moravian Belgian horse. The increase of the basic dimensions from 40´s years to 70´s – 90´s years was found during a detailed evaluation focusing on decade of stallions’ birth year. After year 2000, there was a dramatic drop in the values of the fundamental physical dimensions. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05 to 0.01) were evaluated primarily between stallions born in the 70´s years, and most other decades. A declining tendency in all assessed dimensions was observed during evaluation of the race and decade interaction effect mainly for the Czech-Moravian Belgian horse stallions born from 70´s, respectively 80´s. Apparent downward trend between the 90´s and stallions born after year 2000 was detected especially for stallions of Silesian Noriker breed. Decline of body size parameters was not observed for stallions of Noriker breed. The more likely slightly increased tendencies for KVH, KVP, OHR and OHOL were determined in Noriker stallions.