ANALYSIS OF REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS IN ARABIAN SHAGYA MARES FROM RĂDĂUŢI STUDFARM

Claudia Pânzaru, I. Gîlcă, M. Doliş, R.M. Radu-Rusu

Abstract
   The study based on 50 Shagya Arabian mares (Mersuch, El-Sbaa, Koheilan, Shagya, Siglavy-Bagdady, Dahoman, Hadban and Gazal bloodlines), reared in Rădăuţi studfarm, regarding gestation, foaling-interval and natality, had the purpose to follow the dynamics of these parameters between 2002-2016 years. The extremes of gestation length were found in Dahoman bloodline (300 and 366 days), while the only significant difference (p<0.05) occurred between Shagya and Dahoman bloodlines. The mare gestation lasts between 310-340 days; in the studied population, the average gestation length was found toward the upper limit (339.5 days). Foaling-interval (FI) registered minimal values in Dahoman line (284 days) and maximal ones in El-Sbaa lines (1424 days), whereas no significant differences occurred. FI standard is comprised between 337-338 days, if the mare is mated 8 days post-partum. In the studied population, the average FI was 472.7 days, indicating a intense difference against the species standard, probably due to the reproduction management practices. The natality had the lowest value in Shagya bloodline (54.90%) and the highest one in Mersuch (72.22%). The average natality in mares is 60% while 65.04% was the average calculated for the 50 Shagya Arabian mares.
   Consequently, we suggest optimizing the horses’ reproductive activity in Rădăuţi studfarm, decreasing thus foaling-interval value and favoring in mating those mares whose gestation duration is closer to the species average value.

Key words: Shagya Arabian, gestation, foaling-interval, natality