Mongolian horses
1990
Samdanjamtz, D. | Khuhkhuu, B. | Bynie, B. (Research Inst. of Animal Husbandry, Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia))
With 2 226 000 horses at the start of 1991, the Mongolian People's Republic (MPR) has among the highest number of horses per capita of any country in the world. At the same time, the horses have been recognised as a distinct breed, to be known as the Mongolian. Mongolian horses are remarkably well adapted to the harsh environment of Central Asia, where temperatures can reach minus 50 deg C in winter and 35 deg C in summer. They graze natural pasture all the year, surviving without sheds or supplementary feed. Dark-bay, black and grey-brown tend to be the predominant colours of the Mongolian horses. Body development continues until seven years of age. Sexual maturity is reached at 18-20 months and they may remain fertile until they are 12-15 years old. Horses may loose up to 25% of their body weight during the winter and spring seasons but they have the ability to regain that loss quickly when fresh grazing appears. The dressing-percentage is 53.2% and the meat has a calorific value of 2500-3000 kcal. It is a dual purpose horse but primarily used for herding livestock and for racing, one of the traditional and most popular sports of Mongolians. They have strength, endurance and agility, all very good features for both work and sport, and are capable of covering 200 km in one day. One of the unique products of the Mongolian horse is airag, the national drink of fermented mares milk
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