Colour variation in blue dun Polish Konik and Biłgoraj horses

Stachurska, Anna; Pięta, M.; Jaworski, Zbigniew; Ussing, Anne P.; Bruśniak, Agnieszka; Florek, Mariusz

doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.04.002

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In Polish Koniks, winter hair is longer than summer hair by 4.6 cm on average (Stachurska et al, 2006). The summer and winter hair also differ in color tone (Stachurska et al, 2004), shape in the cross-section (Kownacki, 1962), and thickness (Stachurska et al, 2007). In the winter coat, apart from longer guard hairs with medulla (core of hair), shorter undercoat hairs without a medulla or with only a thin medulla occur (Stachurska et al, 2006).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of coat cover in primitive horses living on a reserve

Stachurska

Robovský

Bocian

et al. 2015

Journal of Animal Science

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Changes in the coat cover are important for mammalian thermoregulation. This is especially true where variable environmental conditions exist throughout the seasons. Coat cover shedding is the replacement of old coat hair with new hair. The process differs in various equids. The aim of the study was to examine the changes in the coat of primitive Polish Konik horses living on a reserve in southeast Poland (50.6319° N). The reserve is located in a temperate climate. The mean temperature is below 0°C in winter (December 8 to March 9) and over 15°C in summer (June 8 to September 8). Five adult mares were included in the study. The study used a specific methodical approach to quantitatively assess coat cover changes. Photos were taken once every 2 wk throughout the whole year to document the state of the mares' coat. MultiScanBase software was used to analyze 260 photos. The percentage of the skin surface covered with short hair in relation to the surface of the body (without the head, neck, and limbs; short hair body [SHB]) was determined. To assess the topography of coat changes, surface parts covered with short hair within 6 regions of the body (shoulder, back, chest, loins, belly, and hindquarters; short hair part [SHP]) were considered separately. The regression coefficient was calculated for the SHB and the air temperature. Correlations in SHP and SHB between the left and right sides of the body were determined. The correlations within the right side of the body concerned particular SHP. As the results show, the coat changes take place at the same time on both sides of the horse's body. In spring, the winter hair is shed, and in the fall, the winter hair grows in longer. High regression (0.901; < 0.0001) proved that air temperature strongly affected the coat changes. The most important increase of SHB occurs in April and the first half of May, whereas the main decrease of SHB takes place in September. Changes between SHP are highly correlated (0.967-0.994; < 0.05). Spring and fall coat changes demonstrate that the shoulders, back, and loins require the winter cover for a longer time than the chest and belly, whereas the hindquarters are the least demanding in this respect. The phenomenon may be associated with, among others, the stronger effect of rain and snow on the upper parts of the body.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of coat cover in primitive horses living on a reserve

Stachurska

Robovský

Bocian

et al. 2015

Journal of Animal Science

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“…All of the lines are included in the currently realized conservation program. Over the last decades, comparative analyses of PK with other horse breeds have been reported by some authors (Stachurska et al 2004(Stachurska et al , 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inter- and intra-genetic diversity in the Polish Konik horse: implications for the conservation program

et al. 2016

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The main objective of the study was to determine the genetic diversity in the Polish Konik (PK) population in the context of a currently conducted conservation program. A total of 94 horses of 16 PK dam lines currently distinguished by breeders were considered. Pedigree analyses were carried out for the whole population of PK registered in the studbook. Basic molecular parameters were estimated. The average group linkage clustering method was used based on the Euclidean similarity measurements between the lines. The allele frequency of 17 microsatellites was used to determine Euclidean distances. Inbreeding coefficients were extracted from the additive relationship matrix. Moreover, some pedigree parameters were estimated. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.48 to 0.76. The expected heterozygosity estimated for the dam lines was higher. PIC values were higher than 0.6 in all the lines. Fis ranged from –0.19 to 0.28, whereas Fit and Fst varied between 0.12 and 0.41 and 0.12 and 0.29, respectively. Minor dissimilarity distances existed for some dam lines. The inbreeding level was 9.3%. The average number of discrete generation equivalents reached 6.85. The majority of the dam lines are not genetically differentiated. Hence, a revision of the breeding strategy seems to be necessary.

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“…This fact is easy to explain because the environmental conditions on a reserve are far more severe than in a stable, hence they affect the adaptation mechanism more strongly. Earlier studies on coat hair color, length and width showed that in each case, seasonal differences were more pronounced under reserve conditions (Stachurska et al 2004(Stachurska et al , 2006(Stachurska et al , 2007.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Such changes are most distinct in primitive breeds that are more closely related to wild horses than specialized breeds after centuries of breeding. Lightening of the blue-dun color in primitive Polish Konik horses in winter is probably a protective feature which once acted in wild ancestors as a camouflage to hide from predators in the snow (Stachurska et al 2004). Darker horses are less noticeable in the summer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coat cover hair density is a symptom of primitive horse adaptation to the environment

Stachurska¹,

Pluta²,

Wójcik³

et al. 2018

PHK

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The objective of the study was to determine whether the coat cover in Polish Konik mares is more dense in winter than in summer and whether the possible difference is effected by the system of the horses' maintenance, lactation or age. Thirty three Polish Konik horses were included: 23 mares kept in a stable and pasture/paddock, and 10 mares living on a close reserve. The study was conducted in July and December, hence summer and winter coats were analysed. The measurements were taken from single horses. Nineteen mares were examined in both seasons, whereas five mares were studied only in the summer and other nine mares only in the winter which resulted in 52 measurements in total. The mares were split into four age groups. Most of mares in both groups lactated in summer, whereas in winter only reserve mares had foals at foot. The coat hair density was determined from the horse's scapula, where an approximately 9 cm 2 area was shaved to obtain hair 0.5 mm in length. Photographs of this area were taken and after conversion a 1 mm 2 square net was put on the picture to enable counting the hair leavings. The measurement was the number of hairs in 1 cm 2 . Data were analyzed using three-way ANOVA with repeated measures (summer, winter), considering two factors: the system of maintenance (stable, reserve) and lactation (lactating mares, non-lactating mares). The age group factor was considered in an additional two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Spearman's correlation, Pearson's correlations, regression and determination coefficients were determined. The results showed that the coat hair density is a symptom of primitive horses' adaptation to changing environmental conditions. The hair density is significantly higher in winter than in summer, and the density in summer and winter is correlated. The coat hair is denser in reserve mares that are subject to more severe conditions than in stable mares. In winter, the coat hair density increases with the mares' age, which may be associated with higher requirements for isolation from harsh conditions in older mares. The coat hair density is not related to the mare's lactation. These findings may be important for improving the welfare of stable horses.Citation: Stachurska A., Pluta M., Wójcik M., Giżejewski Z., Janczarek I., Różańska-Boczula M. (2018) Coat cover hair density is a symptom of primitive horse adaptation to the environment. Pferdeheilkunde 34, 550-556;Coat cover hair density is a symptom of primitive horse adaptation to the environment A. Stachurska et al.

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Colour variation in blue dun Polish Konik and Biłgoraj horses

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

Changes of coat cover in primitive horses living on a reserve

Changes of coat cover in primitive horses living on a reserve

Inter- and intra-genetic diversity in the Polish Konik horse: implications for the conservation program

Coat cover hair density is a symptom of primitive horse adaptation to the environment

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