Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to distinguish the sexual dimorphism of horses of the Campolina breed, by morphometric measurements, and to classify them according to sex, using discriminating functions. Two-hundred and fifteen horses were measured, and 39 morphometric measurements were evaluated. The analysis of covariance and the discriminant analysis were performed. Males were taller and showed a wider chest, a greater scapular-humeral angle, and a larger neck, both in length and circumference. Females had a larger heart girth, wider hips, and a greater opening of the coxal-ground and femorotibial angles. Regarding classification, circumference measurements (85.58%) were more accurate in sexual differentiation than the linear (83.26%) and angular (73.02%) ones. As to classification error, of the total animals measured, 10 to 20% of the females were categorized as males. In addition, 11 to 38% of the males were categorized as females. It can be concluded that of the 39 morphometric measurements evaluated, 22 are responsible for sexual dimorphism in the Campolina horse breed. Circumference and linear measurements provide a more assertive classification to determine sexual dimorphism. Angular measurements show greater classification errors regarding the gender of the horses.
Highlights
The Campolina horse (Equus caballus) breed originated in 1870, in Brazil
Morphometric measurements for sexual dimorphism in the Campolina horse breed Abstract – The objective of this work was to distinguish the sexual dimorphism of horses of the Campolina breed, by morphometric measurements, and to classify them according to sex, using discriminating functions
Sexual dimorphism is so highly valued that breeder associations encourage leaving the mane of male horses long and clipping the mane of females, so their sex can be quickly identified visually (ABCCCampolina, 2018; ABCCMM, 2019; ABCCRMangalarga, 2020)
Summary
The Campolina horse (Equus caballus) breed originated in 1870, in Brazil. The body dimensions and proportions of males and females differ, being called sexual dimorphism (Purzyc et al, 2011). In gait and morphology competitions of Brazilian breeds such as Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina and Mangalarga, the horses compete in separate categories according to sex and age. In these breeds, sexual dimorphism is so highly valued that breeder associations encourage leaving the mane of male horses long and clipping the mane of females, so their sex can be quickly identified visually (ABCCCampolina, 2018; ABCCMM, 2019; ABCCRMangalarga, 2020)
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