Morfometrias da égua e sua relação com o peso no terço médio e final de gestação

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the morphometric measurements in relationship with different weighing methods in the middle third and late gestation in mares. It was evaluated 33 healthy cross-breed mares. They presented body condition score 5-7 and were under to the same health and nutritional management. The mares were evaluated every two weeks, starting in month 5 of pregancy. The comments were divided into three periods of pregnacy: Period 5 to 7 months, period 7 to 9 months and period 9 to 11 months. It was performed: weight measured with weighing-machine, standard tape-weight for equine species and metabolic weight calculated from the girth and length measurements. It was also conducted measurement of chest (Ptorac) and abdominal circumference perimeter in the 12th intercostal space (12EI) and the 18th rib (18Cost). The waist circumference, both in the 12th intercostal space and the rib 18th, showed an increase (p <0.001) only for the period 9 to 11 months. Weight gain was observed only in the scale period 3 (p <0.05). It was not observed changes in metabolic weight and tape weight between periods, both of them underestimated the pregnant mares’weight. We developed the model of multiple linear regression Y = -540.143 + (3.068 x Ptorac) + (12EI X 1.278) + (0.944 x 18Cost), r2 = 0.87 (P <0.001). It can be concluded that the regression model can be used to measure the weight in pregnant mares from the 5th month of pregnancy.