Evaluation of the body condition score of draft horses of the city of Imperatriz, State of Maranhão

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the mean values, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of the weight and parameters of the body conditions score between males and females of the traction horses in the municipality of Imperatriz, State of MA. The animals were attended by the Healthy Horse Horse Program that had as objective to improve the equine welfare and consequently the socioeconomic profile of the cartwrights who have as income source these animals. A total of 146 animals were attended, weekly weighing and visualization of the scores (extremely thin, very thin, thin, moderately thin, moderate, moderately fleshy, fleshy, fat and obese). The statistical results revealed a mean weight for males of 283.08 and 289.33 for females, with a mean height of 142.37 and 139.31 and Pearson's correlation (0.452**), the R2 regression analysis recorded values of F = 33.12 **. The body score revealed for neck, garrote, shoulder, ribs, back and back of the males classification lean (3), females registered for neck, very thin (2), garrote, shoulder, costa, rib and lean back (3). Pearson's correlation recorded values highly significant for weight and height (0.452**), height with neck (0.234**), club (0276**), shoulder (0.348**) and ribs (0.253**). Neck with garrote (0.511**), shoulder (0.458**), rib (0.363**), coast (0.377**), back (0.330**), shoulder garment values (0.484**), rib 0.364**), back (0.429**), back (0.322**). Based on the data analyzed it is concluded that the average live weight of the horses examined being below the average required for the service provided by them, to mean height showed values ranging from 142.37 cm for males and 139.31 cm for females. The indices of body conditions of the animals examined are below the required range of 3 to 4.