Factors influencing the selected body parameters and hippometric indexes in donkey's population

The main focus of our work was to collect basic body measurements of donkey population in the Czech republic and determine the factors that influence these body measurements and hipometric indexes. The following measurements were recorded: height at withers, chest circumference and metacarpus interference. Based on the collected data, we were able to calculate the hipometric indexes as follows: index of boniness, skeleton strength index, body mass index and croup height index. From a total of 331 individuals of donkey species living in the Czech republic we managed to collect 50 samples. These were subjected to a general linear model (GLM) and multiplex comparison statistical analysis. We managed to prove a significant difference between donkeys born in the Czech republic and the ones born abroad for all the measurements. Specifically, the metacarpus circumference depended on the gender, having its impact on the hipometric indexes as well; the boniness index and skeleton strength index were also gender-dependent.