Body Measurements, Normal and Abnormal Body Conformation of Draught Donkeys(Equusasinus) in Tamboul, Sudan

Abstract

The present study was designed to report on the morphological characteristics, body measurements, normal and abnormal body conformation of draught donkeys in Tamboul, Sudan. To achieve the goals of the study 200 donkeys of both sexes were examined visually. Descriptive statistic was used to analyse the data. In this study three breeds of donkeys were detected in the area namely: Makadi, Reefawi and a cross between them. The grey and black were the predominant coat colour among the study population, they represented 57.0% of the total colour types detected with a percentage of 28.5% for each of them, while the light-brown, white and brown colour were also reported. Animals with moderate body condition score were found to represent 35.5% of the total population. The different body measurements (in centimetres) were as follow: height at withers 108cm, head length 43cm, head width 27cm, neck length 59cm, back length 63cm, pelvis length 28cm, pelvis width 32cm. Forelimb measurements: coronary band to fetlock 9cm, fetlock to knee 22cm, knee to elbow 32cm, elbow to shoulder 28cm, shoulder to withers 40cm. Hind limb measurements: coronary band to fetlock 9cm, fetlock to hock 31cm, hock to stifle 37cm, stifle to hip 29cm. When comparing between the two breeds i.e. Refawi and Makadi. The Reefawi showed higher values in the different measurements examined, when compared to the Makadi breed. Also females showed higher values in most of the measurements in comparison to male donkeys. Abnormal conformation of the feet area were as follows: 1.5% toe-out unilateral, 16.0% toe-out bilateral, 3.0% toe-in unilateral, 14.5% toe-in xi bilateral,65.0% normal conformation. Examination of the 3rd metacarpal bone revealed: 12.5% bench knee and 87.5% normal conformation. Anterior view of forelimbs: 4.5% knock knee, 13.0% anterior deviation, and 80.5% normal conformation. Lateral view of the forelimbs: 1.5% standing under in front, 0.5% cutout under the knee, camped in front 0.5, tide in knee 0.5, open knee 4 and 93.0% normal conformation. Feet in the hind limbs: 0.5% toe-out unilateral, 41.0% toe-out bilateral, 1.5% toe in bilateral, 57.0% normal conformation. Rear view of the hind limbs: 39.5% base wide, 6.5% base narrow, 54.0% normal conformation. Hock joint area: 36.5% cow hock, 2.5 sickle hock and 61.0% normal conformation, Neck region: 6.5% bull neck, 0.5% swan neck, 2.5% ewe neck, 0.5% knife-necked, 90% normal conformation. Back spine region: 10.5% convex,8.5% concave, 0.5% stepped, and 80.5% normal conformation, Pelvis area: 4.0% goose-rump, and 96.0% normal conformation. Lambo- scaral palpation test: 69.5% positive to palpation test and 30.5% negatives results to palpation test. It is concluded that the results obtained indicated the presence of a third breed in addition to the Makadi and Reefawi already described before. Further studies are required to determine the genetic characteristics of the three breeds. The major abnormal conformation determined in the current investigation may provide new avenues for advanced work with donkey lameness.