Studio dello sviluppo del puledro in funzione della tecnica di allevamento, della razza e del tipo attitudinale

A survey was carried out in stud farms of Thoroughbred (P.S.I.) and Italian Trotters (T.I.) in the north of Italy to investigate development of foals throughout the first 18 months of age. The following measures were taken: withers height; hip height; body length; hearth girth; cannon bone girth; body weight. 84 PSI (43 colts and 41 fillies) and 151 Trotters (88 colts and 63 fillies) were measured. Janoschek equation resulted the fittest in describing the growth of the horses in comparison with several growth models. According to several applied models, describing growth rate and precocity, P.S.I. showed a faster growth rate and less precocity than T.I. foals. Body weights and withers heights in the first month of life of PSI are lower than those found on PSI foals bred in Kentucky, but similar to those found in PSI bred in Florida. Until 18 months of age, no significant difference was found between colts and fillies of the same breed regarding withers height and hearth girth. Trotters are taller than PSI in the first month of life and during the period from 6 to 12 months of age. In the first month of life Trotters show also a wider hearth girth.