MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION AND TYPOLOGY OF DONKEY FARMING (EQUUS ASINUS) IN THE WILAYA OF TLEMCEN

Abstract

Due to the absence of the ethnic data and studies of racial characterizations of this species in Algeria, which is an endangered species, we contributed to the phenotypical study of donkey population in the area of Tlemcen. A manpower of 61 adult asses, distributed on the level of two areas from where 11 body measurements and 06 phenotypical characters were retained for this study. Measurements LTC, HG, TP, LH, LE, PC, LoT, LoO, LQ, LaT and TM are respectively of 157,26±12,88; 116,16±7,23; 124,26±7,03; 37,15±3,21; 27,07±3,27; 17,50±1,86; 52,39±4,06; 30,15±2,19; 41,42±5,76; 23,01±2,06 and 46,24±4,16cm. the sex does not present any significant effect on studied body measurements (p>0,05). A factorial analysis of the multiple correspondences was carried out on the phenotypical characteristics, and it revealed two principal components which constitute 47,62% and 41,39% of total inertia, percentages respectively related to the color of the dress, the head, the members, the hairs, the muzzle and the belly .This analysis made it possible to establish remarkable phenotypical differences which have implications to take into account in the program of characterization and conservation of the species.