Research Article

Preliminary analysis of biometrics of Siberian Husky dogs

Elżbieta Horoszewicz, Marta Król, Roman Niedziółka, Edyta Sweklej

Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 14(2), 2015, 109‒120

Abstract. In the population of the Siberian Husky breed there are no scientific studies regarding the evaluation of conformation within sex and age of the animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the selected biometric characteristics that are of key importance to the Siberian Husky breed when it comes to working in harness. The study included 13 zoometrical measurements and based on these measurements the 7 conformation indices were defined. The animals were divided into three age groups, I: 10–12 months, II: 24–36 months and III: 4–8 years. The analysis of the results indicated a significant diversity of dogs with regard to sex and age within the study group. In group I, females were heavier than their peers by 15.6%. The adult animals (group III) had a slightly lower body weight than the one that is preferred by most breeders (dogs 28 kg, bitches 23 kg). The index of eurysomia that determines the size of the animal within the sex differentiated (p ≤ 0.05) groups I and II in favour of dogs. Highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) differences were found with regard to the body length index, which was higher in bitches in group I by approximately 20 percentage points. Therefore, as for the zoometrical measurements, the circumference of the chest and the diagonal body length were of key importance. The analysis of the other measurements and indices also showed the differences. These, however, did not disqualify the study group from dog sledding competitions, but could result in their worse results at the start.

Keywords: biometrics, zoometrical measurements, conformation indices, breed, Siberian Husky