Abstract
Usefulness of Selected Incisor Characteristics for Determining the Age of Hucul HorsesThe aim of this study was to assess the suitability of selected characteristics of incisors for age determination in Hucul horses. The study included 173 Hucul horses (137 mares, 28 stallions and 8 geldings) from one day to 27 years of age. Breeding documentation was used to determine the actual age of the horses, which were then divided into age groups. Each group of horses was assigned a specific incisor characteristic to help identify their age. Selected incisor characteristics were used to evaluate the age of the horses according to the method reported by Pruski (2007) and the results were compared with the actual age, indicating the percentage of errors made. It was found that most errors were made in the case of horses over 11 years old, when assessing the changing shape of the occlusal surface of incisors (Table 1). In this group the percentage of errors was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than that found for horses from the first three youngest age groups, in which the eruption time of deciduous incisors, the disappearance of cups on deciduous incisors and the eruption time of permanent incisors were taken into account. Compared to the above traits, errors were made significantly more often (P≤0.01) when age was determined based on the disappearance of permanent incisors, in a group of horses aged between 6 and 11 years. The eruption time of deciduous incisors and permanent incisors were the traits which enabled the most accurate determination of the horses' age. The results obtained suggest that age determination based on dentition is not accurate enough and can only play a subsidiary role, for example when no breeding records are available.
Highlights
Hucul horses have been around since the late 17th century
When analysing the effectiveness of the method for determining age based on selected dentition characteristics, it was found that most errors were made in the case of horses over 11 years old, when assessing the changing shape of the occlusal surface of incisors (Table 1)
In this group the percentage of errors (81%) was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than that found for horses from the first three youngest age groups, in which the eruption time of deciduous incisors, the disappearance of cups on deciduous incisors and the eruption time of permanent incisors were taken into account
Summary
Hucul horses have been around since the late 17th century. This breed was created in Bukovina and Eastern Carpathians, but its origin has not been fully elucidated until now. It is highly probable that they carry Tarpan and Przewalski’s horse blood in their veins, and for many years Hucul horses were crossed and improved using various breeds and types of horses. It is under the influence of the austerity. Morphological analysis of teeth can be used to determine the type of food eaten or the type of environment in which the horses lived Both during the horses’ lifetime and many years after their death, the appearance of teeth may indicate the age, gender or health status of the examined animal. Recent research conducted by many authors suggests that some of these characteristics cannot be regarded as reliable indicators of actual age because of distinct interindividual, breed and environmental differences, or those caused by the type of feed consumed (Walmsley, 1993; Richardson et al, 1994, 1995 a; Muylle et al, 1997, 1998, 1999 b; Vollmerhaus et al, 2002; Friker et al, 2006; Nicks et al, 2007)
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