MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DONKEYS (EQUUS ASINUS) IN KABYLIE AREA, ALGERIA

The survey was to define some morphometric characteristics and body biometric indexes of donkeys sampled in the Kabylie area, Algeria. The study was carried out from February to June 2018 in Bejaia and Tizi-Ouzou province. The study population included 124 males and 2 females. In total, 17 body measures were selected for morphometric characterization including and seven body biometric indexes were calculated. Body weight estimated the two equations was 144.3 ± 23.9 and 171.5 ± 28.8 kg, respectively. Significant higher body weight was recorded in the age group ≤ 5 years and the lower body weight in the age group ≥ 6 - ≤ 10 years and ≥ 11 years. Morphological variables of chest width (CW) and Cannon length (CL) were significant longer (P < 0.02) in aged donkeys (25.2 ± 1.3 and 20.5 ± 0.7 cm, respectively) compared to adult donkeys (24.7 ± 2.3 and 20 ± 1.4 cm, respectively). Aged donkeys (114.8 ± 5.8 cm) were also significantly superior (P < 0.01) concerning the thoracic circumference (TC) compared to adult donkeys (112.2 ± 9.8 cm). The highest values were found between WH and BH (r = 0.80); HR and BH (r = 0.72) HR and WH (r = 0.72) (P < 0.05). Dactyl thoracic Index (DTI), Compact Index (CI), Massive index (MI) and Relative body index (RBI) appeared to be influenced by donkey ages (P > 0.05). This is a first report on the phenotypic characterization in donkeys in Kabylie area (Algeria) based on corporal measurements. Our comparative analysis of morphometric parameters; such as back length, body length, neck length; suggests that donkeys of Kabylie area are typically invariant among breeds and it has not been changed through the periods.