Assessment of non-genetic parameters of the racing performances of Arabian and Thoroughbred horses in Algeria

From 1995 to 2007, flat racing data was collected for Thoroughbred and Arabian horses in Algeria. Non-genetic factors affecting racing performances have been identified and quantified using linear models. Performances are represented through the earnings and the rankings. Three traits were used: two earnings traits [the logarithm of annual virtual earnings (LAEV) and the logarithm of average annual virtual earnings per start (LAEV/S)], and one rank trait (the ranking transformed and normalised by application of the “performance rate” procedure, PERF). The results showed significant positive correlations (p < 0.001) between the three traits in the two breeds, showing that the measurements quantify similar - although different - aptitudes. The effects of sex, age, year of the performance and the interactions between age and sex and between age and year of the race turned out to be significant (p < 0.05) for the three traits LAEV, LAEV/S and PERF for the Arabian horses. However, for Thoroughbreds, the sex effect was only significant for the PERF trait and an interaction between the age and year of the performance was the only significant interaction (p < 0.001) for the LAEV trait. The effects of these non-genetic factors will be used to correct the raw measures in a future genetic evaluation.Key words: Earnings, non-genetic factors, flat racing, race-horses, rankings, Algeria

Morphological characterization of indigenous goats in the region of laghouat in algeria

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Animal production and selection in Maghreb

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Estimation of breeding values of Belgian trotters using an animal model. In State of breeding evaluation in trotters

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Estimation of breeding values of Belgian trotters in animal model

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Aspect génétique de la fertilité. Possibilité d'amélioration par sélection

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Morphological characterization of indigenous goats in the region of Laghouat in Algeria

This study aims to characterize phenotypically two indigenous goat breeds in Laghouat area (Algeria) and to evaluate effect of age and sex on morph-biometrics characteristics. A total of 312 animals were investigated : 58 females of Mekatia breed and 254 of Arabia breed (44 males and 210 females). The results show that Mekatia breed is characterized by short hair type (96.55%) whereas Arabia breed by long hair type (100% for males, 92.38% for females). The majority of both breeds were multi-coloured (≥3 colors). The semi-pendulous ears were the most represented in Mekatia (48.28%) while in Arabia, the pendulous ears were the dominant (79.55% and 75.72% for males and females respectively). About quantitative traits, both breeds are classified as large. The age effect is shown for more half of measurements with an overall increase of animal size with age (p˂0.05). A significant sexual dimorphism (p˂0.05) is shown for all measurements except two characters (ear length and ischia width). The results of this study can be a basis for the description and standardization of goat breeds, Mekatia and Arabia, in the region of Laghouat in Algeria.El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar fenotípicamente dos razas de cabras indígenas en el área de Laghouat (Argelia), y evaluar el efecto de la edad y el sexo sobre las características biométricas morfológicas. Se analizarón un total de 312 animales: 58 hembras de raza Mekatia y 254 de raza Arabia (44 machos y 210 hembras). Los resultados muestran que la raza Mekatia se caracteriza por el pelo corto (96.55%) mientras que Arabia muestra un pelo largo (100% para los machos, 92.38% para las hembras). La mayor parte de los animales de ambas razas eran multicolores (≥3 colores). Las orejas semi-pendulares fueron las más representadas en Mekatia (48.28%) mientras que en Arabia, las orejas pendulares fueron las dominantes (79.55% y 75.72% en machos y en hembras, respectivamente). Sobre los rasgos cuantitativos, ambas razas se clasifican como grandes. El efecto de la edad se muestra para más de la mitad de las mediciones con un aumento general del tamaño del animal con la edad (