The study included 249 horses belonging to 3 horse breeds. Konik horses, comprising the first group, is an example of a breed similar to the extinct Tarpan. In our study, these horses were taken to be a primitive anatomical model of the horse body. The other groups comprised the Polish Half-bred horse and Thoroughbred horse. The biometric characteristics of the horses were compared based on 24 indices. The aim of the paper was to find a reduced set of indices that can be used to determine group membership of the horses. To do this, we used statistical methods to find the most important indices that best discriminate breeds from each other. Chi-squared statistics, linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, and 1-way ANOVA showed that the discrimination among groups of horses is connected with these 5 indices: scapula, smaller trunk (distance between tubercle of humerus and coxal tuber), greater trunk (distance between tubercle of humerus and ischial tuberosity), metacarpus circumference, and hind autopodium-smaller trunk. Thoroughbred and Half-bred horses are clearly different in exterior conformation from Konik horses. The differences between Thoroughbred and Half-bred horses are more subtle. The conformation of Thoroughbreds is jointly determined by relatively small differences in a range of features.

ABSTRACT:In this report, we present a rare case of cephalothoracopagus (monocephalic dithoracic) conjoined twins with anencephaly in pig. Conjoined Polish large white piglets were born at term after an uncomplicated birth. The litter consisted of 11 piglets. The conjoined twins were born alive, but died shortly after birth and were subjected to further investigation. Blood vessels of the heart were filled with LBS 3060 latex, and then the twins were fixed in 10% non-buffered formalin. Necropsy revealed the external and internal anatomy of the affected twins. Examinations demonstrated abnormalities of skeletal, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems. The twins had a single head, neck and chest and were separated from the umbilicus caudally. They had four forelimbs and four hindlimbs. Examination of the skeleton revealed two complete vertebral columns connected with one skull. Two tongues and a cleft palate were present in the oral cavity. The conjoined twins had a single pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, part of jejunum, spleen, liver and pancreas. The remaining part of the digestive system was doubled. Each piglet had a separate urogenital apparatus. The examination revealed only one heart with structural abnormalities. Two larynxes and tracheas were identified. The right twin had the right lung while the left twin had the left lung. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first detailed report of this type of conjoined twins in the pig.

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