Abstract

In Algeria, donkeys are experiencing a drastic decrease in their numbers, requiring a renewed interest in the species to avoid its decline and extinction. Moreover, the economic interest that these animals can present imposes the implementation of a program of improvement and safeguard of the Algerian donkey population (Equus asinus). This work was carried out to contribute to the knowledge of this population. The population is made up of 113 adult donkeys, of different sexes and ages, covering 3 border wilayas (El-Tarf, Souk-Ahras, and Tebessa).
The first part concerned the establishment of an ethnic and functional classification by observation (6 qualitative characteristics) as well as the realization of body measurements (13 morpho-metric criteria) on 65 donkeys, allowing the calculation of zootechnical indices of these animals. The second part focuses on the definition of biological parameters and the establishment of hematological and biochemical reference values by carrying out NFS and biochemical assessments on samples of jugular blood from 37 donkeys. Concerning the third part which studies the variations of the activity of reproduction of 48 males, is interested in the follow-up of the variations of the right and left testicular biometry (LT, lT, ET, PT, P, VT, Vp) and histology (realization of histological sections) during 4 seasons (PR, NR, PrR and R). The effect of variations in age, sex, BCS, and seasons on the variations in all the variables previously mentioned was also discussed.
The results show a population composed of four heterogeneous classes of animals with a predominantly bay coat color (61.5%), an average body length (LT= 115.76±7.23 cm), an average height at the withers (HG= 110.15±8.49 cm), and a weight ranging from PV1= 151.30±25.45 kg to PV2= 158.83±26.77 kg. This population has a rectilinear profile (HDD= 0.96±0.03), of elongated proportion (ICP= 0.98±0.21 and ICR= 1.00±0.09) with a hypermetric format (IDT= 0.12±0.01), compact with a heavy tendency (IC= 1.05±0.05). In addition, the quantitative variables were found to be influenced by variations in sex (p=0.004) and BCS (p=0.004). The selected animal sample presented variable means of hematological and biochemical parameters according to age (p=0.01), sex (p<0.05), and their age*sex interaction (p<0.05). The donkeys studied had significantly low mean values for blood glucose (Glu= 0.58 ± 0.18 IU/L) and creatinine (Crea= 11.17±2.36 IU/L). A relatively high triglyceride level (Trig= 3.29±4.01 IU/L) and a relatively low urea level (Urea= 0.17±0.06 IU/L) were also observed. Monitoring of reproductive activity showed that it was strongly related to age (P = 0.000), season (p = 0.000) and their interaction (age*season) (p = 0.000). These animals showed a high level of reproductive activity during the spring and summer seasons, while it slowed down during the autumn and was at its lowest levels during the winter season.
The results obtained allow the observation of a great phenotypic and biological diversity, leading to the contribution in the elaboration of a program for the safeguard of the autochthonous asinine populations and allowing the maintenance of the animal diversity in Algeria.
Keywords: Algeria, donkey, biochemistry, hematology, morphology, testicles.

Information

Item Type:	Thesis
Divisions:	» Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
ePrint ID:	2927
Date Deposited:	2022-03-14
Further Information:	Google Scholar
URI:	https://www.univ-soukahras.dz/en/publication/article/2927

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