Portuguese Equidae native breeds: main characteristics, census and demographic parameters

Apresentação em painel

The aim of this study was to summarise the main characteristics of the Portuguese Equidae native breeds. Portugal is a small country from the southwest of Europe with 50 recognised domestic native breeds. Among them there are 6 Equidae breeds, 4 equine (Lusitano, Sorraia, Garrano and Terceira pony) and 2 donkey populations (Miranda and Graciosa). In this review we present an overall census of each population, average body weight, height at withers, skills and uses, dynamics in the studbook and some demographic parameters such as known generations, generation interval and inbreeding. Lusitano horse is the main equine breed, with a close studbook and small census of 3,623 breeding females (half outside Portugal), spread around the globe with more than 30 countries breeding it. The Garrano pony is a small horse from the northwest, with a close studbook, with 1,994 breeding females, 162 stallions, and 435 breeders. Sorraia horse is a primitive southern European breed regarded as an universal genetic resource, very resistant and versatile, managed as a close population since 1937 with only 18 breeders, ~150 breeding females and a total of ~350 animals worldwide. Terceira Pony, from Azores, with an open studbook, was the last to be recognised (2014), with a total of ~100 animals descending from 14 founders. The Miranda donkey from the northeast is a long bay coat animal, with a calm temperament suited for agriculture, milk production and leisure, with a total of 756 females, 60 stallions and 460 breeders. The Graciosa donkey, from Azores, is the most recently recognised donkey breed (2015). With a very small size, a scarce census of 92 dams, of which only 22 are in production, 13 stallions and 63 breeders, are bred for conservation, tourism and milk production. Beside the opportunities for research and conservation programs, all these breeds represent important socio-economic and ecological values, that will enhance the sustainability of Mediterranean production systems.

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