COMPARISON OF USE VALUE OF PUREBRED ARABIAN HORSES RAISED IN DIFFERENT BREEDING CENTERS IN THE YEARS 1924-1977

Krystyna Chmiel¹, Anna Gajewska¹, Dorota Sobczuk^2
1 Department of Animal Breeding and Use, Institute of Agricultural Science of Zamosc, Agricultural Academy of Lublin, Poland
² Department of Animal Breeding and Use, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland

ABSTRACT

Tested were 1788 purebred Arabian fillies and colts raced during the following periods: I (seasons 1927-1939), II (seasons 1946-1961) and III (seasons 1962-1992). There were divided into groups according to quantities of horses submitted to performance trials (more than 20 heads, 5-20 and less than 5 ones). It was found, that in greater herds more often occurred extreme values of coefficients of success per head. The highest value was observed in the I period and resulted 1.73.

Key words: Arabian horses, breeder, racing performance.

INTRODUCTION

The Polish breeding of purebred Arabian horses for many times regenerated from demolitions. Its shape was also influenced by frequent changes of agricultural policy of the State [5, 9]. The degree of submission of the population to racing trials and their results depended, among the others, on financial situation of the owner, quantity of the herd and form of the ownership. In the periods separated for the purpose of our research [3, 4, 5], within those ranges prevailed different relations. So, the aim of the present paper was to evaluate, whether the factors mentioned above influenced the use value of the Arabian horse population and how strong their influence was.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research material embraced purebred Arabian mares and stallions put to stud and raced in Poland [8,11] during the periods separated by the authors:

I – years of birth 1924-1935 (racing seasons 1927-1939),
II – years of birth 1943-1958 (racing seasons 1946-1961),
III – years of birth 1959-1977 (racing seasons 1962-1992).

Considered were only the horses, who in tested periods completed their race careers. Together there were 1788 heads (879 mares and 909 stallions), including for the I period 259 such horses (127 mares and 132 stallions), whereas for the II and III periods the respective values resulted 544 (283 and 261) and 985 (470 and 515).

In all periods separated were 3 groups of breeding centers, according to the size of the herd:

1. to 5 horses taking part in races,

2. 5-20 horses taking part in races,

3. more than 20.

For all estimated horses made up were indexes of use value, calculated by the method of Budzynski and Chmiel [1,2], published in the Volume I of the Register of Use Value of Polish Purebred Arabian Horses [1]. For comparison used were average values of Coefficient of success (Cs) per head of a horse from all tested populations. Given were also names and indexes of use value [1, 2] for the best stallions. From an index of use value, consisting of 3 components, as an indice determining use value of Arabian horses, applied was the coefficient of success (Cs):

where:

a – quantity of an age group,
Sx – sum of money won by a given horse,
Sa – sum of money won by his age group.

The computed average values were subsequently compared, whereas the significance of differences between them was evaluated by the method of Duncan’s multiple range test [10].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the I period (1927-1939), in studs with more than 20 raced horses, found was the lowest percent of poor racers, whereas the highest – of outstanding ones. On the other hand, in small centers, maintaining to 5 broodmares, prevailed extreme values, because from such studs descended the highest shares of horses with their average indicators either 0.00, or 3.00 and more. Nevertheless, sometimes petty breeders succeeded to raise real cracks, as the Derby-winner Sahiba 1924, bred at small stud of Breniów. From the middle-sized breeding centers mostly came average racers; 56% of them achieved average results, i.e. Cs from 0.01 to 0.99 (Table 1).

Table 1. Quantity of purebred Arabian horses with specified levels of coefficient of success, born in years 1924-1935

Size of a herd	Range of Cs	Mares		Stallions		Together
		n	%	n	%	n	%
More than 20 heads	0.00	7	5.47	4	3.13	11	8.59
	0.01 – 0.99	28	21.88	18	14.06	46	35.94
	1.00 – 2.99	18	14.06	29	22.65	47	36.72
	3.00 and more	10	7.81	14	10.94	24	18.75
	Total	63	49.22	65	50.78	128	100.00
5-20 heads	0.00	8	8.79	2	2.20	10	10.99
	0.01 – 0.99	31	34.07	20	21.98	51	56.04
	1.00 – 2.99	9	9.89	13	14.28	22	24.18
	3.00 and more	2	2.20	6	6.59	8	8.79
	Total	50	54.95	41	45.05	91	100.00
Less than 5 heads	0.00	–	–	7	17.50	7	17.50
	0.01 – 0.99	13	32.50	6	15.00	19	47.50
	1.00 – 2.99	–	–	8	20.00	8	20.00
	3.00 and more	1	2.50	5	12.50	6	15.00
	Total	14	35.00	26	65.00	40	100.00

The distribution of average values of Cs per head in the I period corresponded with regularities mentioned above. The highest levels of Cs were obtained in large breeding centers, the second best in the smallest ones, whereas the lowest average values were achieved in middle-sized studs. For that period found was, in the group of the largest breeding centers, the highest value of average Cs per head, resulting 1.73 (Table 4).

In the II period (1946-1961), in the group of breeders with 5-20 raced horses, noted was the lowest dispersion of Cs values – 33.33% of average racers and 66.67% of efficient ones (Table 2). Such an equalization was observed in the horses bred by Gumniska, Pełkinie and Adamówka, raced in the end of The World War II and shortly afterwards, because in those studs the performance of population was highly valued. The Period II, compared to others, characterized itself with a great equalization of racing fields. Noted was a relatively low percent of horses with extreme values of indicators (Table 2). Even the highest Cs per head, computed for horses bred in centers listed above, was lower than in the previous period (Table 4). Nevertheless, the differences between the average indicators for horses from herds of a different size were highly significant.

Table 2. Quantity of purebred Arabian horses with specified levels of coefficient of success, born in years 1943-1958

Size of a herd	Range of Cs	Mares		Stallions		Together
		n	%	n	%	n	%
More than 20 heads	0.00	7	1.39	8	1.59	15	2.98
	0.01 – 0.99	139	27.58	74	14.68	213	42.26
	1.00 – 2.99	110	21.83	146	28.97	256	50.79
	3.00 and more	4	0.79	16	3.17	20	3.97
	Total	260	51.59	244	48.41	504	100.00
5-20 heads	0.00	–	–	–	–	–	–
	0.01 – 0.99	2	16.67	2	16.67	4	33.33
	1.00 – 2.99	4	33.33	4	33.33	8	66.67
	3.00 and more	–	–	–	–	–	–
	Total	6	50.00	6	50.00	12	100.00
Less than 5 heads	0.00	2	7.14	–	–	2	7.14
	0.01 – 0.99	12	42.86	4	14.29	16	57.14
	1.00 – 2.99	3	10.71	7	25.00	10	35.72
	3.00 and more	–	–	–	–	–	–
	Total	17	60.71	11	39.29	28	100.00

In the III Period (1962-1992) the highest equalization of the population was observed for few remaining petty breeders. The greatest dispersion, but at the same time the highest average Cs per head, was noted for state studs, keeping big herds, having all preferences and access to the most professional training (Table 3, 4). Considering the great divergencies between the compared populations, however, the average values of Cs for horses belonging to different kinds of owners didn’t differ significantly.

Table 3. Quantity of purebred Arabian horses with specified levels of coefficient of success, born in years 1959-1977

Size of a herd	Range of Cs	Mares		Stallions		Together
		n	%	n	%	n	%
More than 20 heads	0.00	44	4.64	39	4.11	83	8.75
	0.01 – 0.99	226	23.81	153	16.12	379	39.94
	1.00 – 2.99	163	17.17	263	27.72	426	44.88
	3.00 and more	20	2.11	41	4.32	61	6.43
	Total	453	47.73	496	52.27	949	100.00
5-20 heads	0.00	–	–	1	3.57	1	3.57
	0.01 – 0.99	7	25.00	5	17.86	12	42.86
	1.00 – 2.99	5	17.86	7	25.00	12	42.86
	3.00 and more	2	7.14	1	3.57	3	10.71
	Total	14	50.00	14	50.00	28	100.00
Less than 5 heads	0.00	–	–	–	–	–	–
	0.01 – 0.99	3	37.50	3	37.50	6	75.00
	1.00 – 2.99	–	0	2	25.00	2	25.00
	3.00 and more	–	–	–	–	–	–
	Total	3	37.50	5	62.50	8	100.00

Table 4. Average values of coefficients of success for purebred Arabian horses born in different periods

Period	Breeder	n	%	Average Cs	Standard deviation SD	Mn	Mx
1924–1939	> 20	128	49.42	1.73ab	1.99	0.00	8.94
	5-20	91	35.13	1.08b	1.47	0.00	7.02
	< 5	40	15.44	1.11a	1.55	0.00	5.27
1943–1958	> 20	504	92.65	1.20A	0.87	0.00	4.45
	5-20	12	2.21	1.40B	0.74	0.09	2.51
	< 5	28	5.14	0.75AB	0.62	0.00	1.94
1959–1977	> 20	949	96.35	1.22	1.19	0.00	8.67
	5-20	28	2.84	1.17	0.93	0.00	3.53
	< 5	8	0.81	0.75	1.00	0.17	1.88

Average values marked with the same letters differ significantly (P 0.05).

The Period I embraced the twenty inter-war years, when in revived Poland regenerated was the purebred Arabian horse population. The races for Arabians were only introduced, but although no form of ownership was preferred [6], in larger studs, however, like Janów or Gumniska, possible was embracing with professional training of higher percent of the herd [9]. That’s why in such center obtained was the highest equalization, whereas the population in hands of petty breeders proved more dispersed.

In the Period II occurred the change of political system in Poland. It caused the nationalization of pedigree livestock, including purebred Arabian horses [5, 7]. Nevertheless, the beginning of that period, especially the years 1943-46, may be considered as transitional ones, because raced were horses born in private studs during the World War II. Therefore to comparison could be taken also horses from herds counting from 5 to 20 heads, which after 1950 ceased to exist (Table 3).

The Period III was submitted to the requirements of foreign markets and dominated by large, state-owned studs. In hands of private breeders, such as Mr. Z. Braur, Mrs. A. Dębska and Mr. A. Ou, remaining were only single horses (Table 3). That’s why observed was a reverse situation than in the pre-war period, because the greatest dispersion of use value characterized large herds, whereas the most equalized were populations from few small centers.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Proportions of horses with defined indicators of use value were different, according to the economical and political situation, what highly influenced the horse-breeding in all separated periods.

2. Observed was more frequent gaining extreme values of Cs in larger populations, whereas average values were often achieved in middle-sized ones.

REFERENCES

1. Budzyński M., Chmiel K., 1990, 1991. The Register of Use Value of Polish Purebred Arabian Horses. T. I, R.E.R. Arabians.

2. Budzyński M., Chmiel K., 1994. Rejestr wartosci użytkowej polskich koni czystej krwi arabskiej T. II [The Register of Use Value of Polish Purebred Arabian Horses]. AR, Lublin [in Polish].

3. Budzyński M., Chmiel K., 1989. Wpływ intensywnosci eksploatacji 3l. koni czystej krwi arabskiej na ich wyniki w II i dalszych sezonach wyscigowych [Influence of intensity of exploitation of 3-year-old purebred Arabian horses on their race results in the second and further racing seasons]. Ann. Univ. Mariae Curie-Skłodowska, Sect. EE, 7 (6), 55-58 [in Polish].

4. Budzyński M., Lewik-Chmiel K., 1985. Odziedziczalnosc dzielnosci wyscigowej 3- i 4-letnich koni czystej krwi arabskiej [Heritability of racing performance of 3 and 4-year-old purebred Arabian horses]. Ann. Univ. Mariae Curie-Skłodowska, Sect. EE, 3 (26), 227-230 [in Polish].

5. Lewik K., 1984. Wykorzystanie wyników wyscigowych prób dzielnosci w polskiej hodowli koni czystej krwi arabskiej. Skrót rozprawy doktorskiej [Utilization of race results in Polish breeding of purebred Arabian horses. An abstract of the doctor’s thesis]. Ann. Univ. Mariae Curie-Skłodowska, Sect. EE, 2 (29), 281-294 [in Polish].

6. Pankiewicz R., 2002. Polska hodowla koni czystej krwi arabskiej 1918-1939 [Polish breeding of purebred Arabian horses in the years 1918-1939]. Wydaw. Petroniusz Frejlich, Warszawa [in Polish].

7. Pawelec-Zawadzka I., Budzyński M., Chmiel K., 2001. Program Hodowli Koni Rasy Czystej Krwi Arabskiej. Opracowany przez zespół ds. Hodowli Polskiego Zwiazku Hodowców Koni Arabskich (maszynopis na zlecenie Ministerstwa Rolnictwa) [The Program of Breeding of Purebreed Arabian Horses, worked out by the team of Polish Arabian Horse Breeder’s Association, by order of the Ministry of Agriculture]. Warszawa [in Polish].

8. Polska Księga Stadna Koni Arabskich Czystej Krwi (PASB), 1932-1987. [Polish Arabian Stud Book]. T. I – XII, PTWK, Warszawa [in Polish].

9. Pruski W., 1983. Dwa wieki polskiej hodowli koni arabskich (1778-1978) i jej sukcesy na swiecie [Two centuries of Polish breeding of purebred Arabian horses (1778-1978) and its successes throughout the world]. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Lesne, Warszawa [in Polish].

10. Ruszczyc Z., 1978. Metodyka doswiadczeń zootechnicznych [Methodology of animal science experiments]. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Lesne, Warszawa [in Polish].

11. Wiadomosci Wyscigowe, 1927-1939. Towarzystwo Zachęty do Hodowli Koni w Polsce, (1946-1979). Państwowe Tory Wyscigów Konnych [Racing News (1927-1939). Society for Promotion of Horse Breeding in Poland (1946-1979). State Racecourse]. Warszawa [in Polish].

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Krystyna Chmiel
Department of Animal Breeding and Use,
Institute of Agricultural Science of Zamosc,
Agricultural Academy of Lublin, Poland
Szczebrzeska 102, 22-400 Zamosc, Poland
Phone: 084 67 72 771
email: kchmiel@wnr.edu.pl

Anna Gajewska
Department of Animal Breeding and Use,
Institute of Agricultural Science of Zamosc,
Agricultural Academy of Lublin, Poland
Szczebrzeska 102, 22-400 Zamosc, Poland
Phone: 084 67 72 775
email: agajewska@wnr.edu.pl

Dorota Sobczuk
Department of Animal Breeding and Use,
Faculty of Agricultural Science,
University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
Szczebrzeska 102, 22-400 Zamość, Poland
Phone: (+48 084) 677 27 73
email: dorotasobczuk@wnr.edu.pl

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