Body Measurements of Donkeys of Poitevin and Catalan Breeds and their Crossbreds in Morocco

Abstract

The study concerned the analysis of body measurements of 125 Poitevin (P), 107 Catalan (C) and 77 reciprocal crossbred (PxC et CxP) donkeys used in the national stud farms of Morocco. The donkeys were born between 1937 and 1973 in Morocco, France and Spain. The genetic type had a significant effect on all measurements studied except on the height at withers. Poitevin donkeys had a height at withers, heart girth, body weight, body length, substernal gap and front cannon bone circumference of 139.7 cm, 152.4 cm, 346.4 kg, 143.2 cm, 76.8 cm and 20.5 cm, respectively. Compared to Catalan donkeys the differences were – 0.5 cm, 2.7 cm, 15.7 kg, 3.7 cm, – 1.4 cm and 1.5 cm, and compared to crossbreds 1.4 cm, 2.3 cm, 14.2 kg, 5.1 cm, – 0.5 cm and 1.3 cm, respectively. The heterosis effect was significant for the body length (– 2.30%) and the front cannon bone circumference (– 2.78%) only. It was concluded that body measurements of Poitevin and Catalan donkey breeds were slightly different.