Use of biometric characteristics indices to identify the differences between mares and stallions of Turkoman and Thoroughbred horses

The objective of this study was to consider biometric indices for distinguishing the difference between the Thoroughbred and the Turkoman horse breeds. Body conformation traits of 23 stallions and 23 mares of Thoroughbred and 26 stallions and 33 mares of Turkoman at the ages of two, three and four years , were measured for calculating of 12 indices. Then, the data were analyzed as a factorial of 2×2×3 under completely randomized design using R software. The considered factors included: breed (Turkoman and Thorughbred), sex (mare and stallion) and age (two, three and four years of age). This study showed that indices of withers to body length (P<0.05), metacarpus circumference to its length (P<0.01) and metatarsus circumference to its length in Thoroughbred breed were greater than Turkoman breed and index of head side neck width to withers height ratio in Turkoman breed was significantly (P<0.05)  greater than Thoroughbred breed. Age and sex had a significant effect on three different investigated indices. According to the significant effect of breed on some biometric indices, the indices in respect to sex and age can be used for breed identification.