A Morphometric Survey among Three Iranian Horse Breeds with Multivariate Analysis
Abstract: Three Iranian horse
breeds, Turkoman, Caspian, and Kurdish, are the most important Iranian horse
breeds which are well known in all around of the world because of their beauty,
versatility, great stamina, and
intelligence. Phenotypic characterization was used to identify and
document the diversity within and between distinct breeds, based on their
observable attributes. Phenotypic characterization and body biometric in 23
traits were measured in 191 purebred horses belonging to three breeds, i.e.
Turkoman (70 horses), Kurdish (77 horses), and Caspian (44 horses). Caspian breed was sampled from the Provinces of Alborz and
Gilan. Kurdish breed was sampled from the Provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah,
and Hamadan. Turkoman breed was sampled from the Provinces of Golestan,
Markazi, and Isfahan. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was
implemented. In addition, Canonical Discriminate Analysis (CDA), Principal
Component Analysis (PCA), and Custer analysis were executed for assessing the
relationship among the breeds. All statistical analysis was executed by SAS
statistical program. The results of our investigation represented the breeds
classification into 3 different classes (Caspian, Turkoman, and Kurdish) based
on different morphometrical traits. Caspian breed with smaller size in most
variables was detached clearly from the others with more distance than Kurdish
and Turkoman breeds. The result showed that the most variably trait for
classification was Hind Hoof Length. Adaptation with different environments
causes difference in morphology and difference among breeds. We can identify
and classify domestic population using PCA, CDA, and cluster analysis.
Keywords: morphometric; Iran;
horse; breed; PCA
Author: M. Hosseini, H. M.
Shahrbabak, M. B. Zandi, M. Fallahi
Journal Code: jppeternakangg160055
