Resumo
The application of morphofunctional measurements allows the selection of suitable animals to perform working activities and ensure that animal maximum capacities are not exceeded. Mules are commonly used by small farmers for agricultural work in mountain areas where the access is extremely difficult. We aimed to estimate the functionality indexes of working mules in mountain areas of the Colombian Central Andes. A total of 94 adult mules were evaluated for withers height, thoracic perimeter, body length, neck length, and body weight, which were used to determine the body index (BI), proportionality index (PI), and load carriage index (LCI). Descriptive statistics, analysis of correlations, and principal component analysis were performed. Males presented higher morphometric measurements than females. There was a negative correlation between BI with PI and LCI. The principal component analysis was able to merge characteristics in two components explaining 81.78% of the variance in the indexes. These results demonstrated that working mules in the studied area have morphometric characteristics that define them as mesolinear animals with a low frame and broad chest, and these characteristics can function as a guide to identify desirable conformation indices for working mules, determining values of adequate load, respecting animal welfare.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Equidae/anatomia & histologia , Biotipologia , Índice de Massa CorporalResumo
The application of morphofunctional measurements allows the selection of suitable animals to perform working activities and ensure that animal maximum capacities are not exceeded. Mules are commonly used by small farmers for agricultural work in mountain areas where the access is extremely difficult. We aimed to estimate the functionality indexes of working mules in mountain areas of the Colombian Central Andes. A total of 94 adult mules were evaluated for withers height, thoracic perimeter, body length, neck length, and body weight, which were used to determine the body index (BI), proportionality index (PI), and load carriage index (LCI). Descriptive statistics, analysis of correlations, and principal component analysis were performed. Males presented higher morphometric measurements than females. There was a negative correlation between BI with PI and LCI. The principal component analysis was able to merge characteristics in two components explaining 81.78% of the variance in the indexes. These results demonstrated that working mules in the studied area have morphometric characteristics that define them as mesolinear animals with a low frame and broad chest, and these characteristics can function as a guide to identify desirable conformation indices for working mules, determining values of adequate load, respecting animal welfare.
Assuntos
Animais , Biotipologia , Equidae/anatomia & histologia , Índice de Massa CorporalResumo
Os equídeos possuem grande importância econômica, sendo amplamente utilizados em propriedades rurais, lazer e esporte. Os híbridos (muares e bardotos) são animais pouco estudados e que podem ser confundidos devido à grande semelhança fenotípica entre eles. Além disso, a interpretação do perfil bioquímico sérico dos híbridos e asininos geralmente é feita utilizando-se erroneamente valores de referência para equinos. Neste contexto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: 1) desenvolver um teste rápido e preciso, baseado na avaliação do DNA mitocondrial de bardotos e muares, para diferenciá-los, por meio de um PCR-Multiplex; 2) caracterizar o perfil bioquímico sérico de bardotos e jumentos da raça Pêga e investigar a influência da idade e do sexo nos componentes bioquímicos séricos destes animais. Para o desenvolvimento do teste molecular para a identificação de muares e bardotos, três primers específicos para a região D-loop do DNA mitocondrial foram desenhados e uma PCR multiplex foi desenvolvida e validada utilizando amostras de DNA de 77 animais (equinos, asininos, muares e bardotos) de diferentes origens. DNA mitocondrial de origem asinina gera um amplicon específico de 689 pares de base e o de origem equina um de 620 pares de base. Assim, o teste permite identificar com precisão a origem materna dos híbridos, o que é suficiente para determinar se o animal é um muar ou um bardoto. Para a avaliação dos parâmetros bioquímicos séricos de bardotos foram utilizadas amostras de sangue de 15 animais, sendo oito machos com idade entre 14 e 84 meses e sete fêmeas com idade entre 6 e 84 meses. Verificou-se que a relação albumina globulina A:G, cálcio e relação Ca:P apresentaram valores superiores para animais com idade inferior a 30 meses. Os resultados mostraram que com relação ao perfil bioquímico sérico de bardotos há diferenças para idades, mas não para sexo. Para jumentos foram analisadas amostras sanguíneas de 123 animais da raça Pêga, dos quais 29 eram machos com idade entre 8 dias e 10 anos e 94 fêmeas entre 2 dias e 12 anos de idade. Entre as faixas etárias, houve diferença estatística para proteínas totais, albumina, colesterol, triglicérides, creatinina, fósforo, cálcio, relação Ca:P, magnésio, AST, fosfatase alcalina e GGT. O sexo influenciou nos valores de proteínas totais, globulinas, triglicérides, relação A:G, fósforo, cálcio e CK. Nota-se que os parâmetros bioquímicos séricos de jumentos da raça Pêga foram influenciados pela idade e pelo sexo. Em conclusão, os resultados obtidos nesse trabalho podem ser utilizados por produtores, criadores e médicos veterinários, sendo importantes para a pesquisa, a clínica e o agronegócio de equídeos.
The horses have great economic importance, being widely used in farms, leisure and sport. Hybrids (mules and hinnies) are poorly studied animals and can be confused due to the great phenotypic similarity between them. Additionally, analysis of serum biochemical profile of hybrids and donkeys is generally performed using the standard equine erroneously. In this context, the objectives of this study were: 1) to develop a rapid and accurate test based on the evaluation of mitochondrial DNA hinnies and mules, to differentiate them through a PCR-Multiplex; 2) characterize the serum biochemical profile hinnies and donkeys the Pêga breed and investigate whether there is influence of age and sex on serum biochemical components of these animals. For the development of molecular test to identify mules and hinnies three primers specific for the D-loop mtDNA region were designed and a multiplex PCR was developed and validated using DNA samples from 77 animals (horses, donkeys, mules and hinnies) from different sources. Mitochondrial DNA asses rise generates a specific amplicon of 689 base pairs and a source of equine 620 base pairs. Thus, the test allows to accurately identify maternal origin of the hybrid, which is sufficient to determine whether the animal is a mule or hinny. For the evaluation of serum biochemical parameters of hinnies blood samples from 15 animals were used, eight males aged between 14 and 84 months and seven females aged 6 to 84 months. It was found that the albumin globulin ratio A:G, calcium and Ca: P ratio higher values for animals aged less than 30 months. The results showed that with respect to the serum biochemical profile hinnies was differences in age, but not to sex. To asses were analyzed blood samples from animals of the handle class 123, of which 29 were males aged between 8 days and 10 years and 94 females between 2 days and 12 years of age. Among the age groups, there was statistical difference in the total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium, Ca:P ratio, magnesium, AST, alkaline phosphatase and GGT. Sex influenced the values of total protein, globulin, triglycerides, ratio A:G, phosphorus, calcium and CK. Note that if the serum biochemical parameters of donkeys Pêga breed were influenced by age and sex. In conclusion, the results obtained in this work can be used by farmers, breeders and veterinarians, are important for research, clinical and agribusiness equines.