Conservation and using the gene pool of the horses of the Tuvan breed

The study provided the analysis of the results of a large-scale survey of the Tuvan native horse population. Expeditionary research was carried out as the part of the implementation of republican program «Tyvaaat» (Tuvan horse) which provided for the examination, selection, scoring, chipping, development of software for keeping the register of the Tuvan horse breed. The main goal of the research was to preserve the unique Tuvan horse breed. 4319 animals were examined in the total. Only 2567 animals of the total were selected for the research, including stallions - 93 heads, mares - 1352 heads aged 4 years and older. A comparative analysis of the materials from different periods showed that the horses of the Tuvan breed slightly changed downward. The current population of the Tuvan mares was 2.2 centimeters lower in height at the withers than the mares examined in 1975. In the course of the expeditions it was noted that the horses of the Tuvan breed possessed the characteristic features of the type and the exterior, making it easy to identify them visually. They have strong exterior, long and thick bangs, mane and tail, brushes are slightly expressed. The suits are very diverse. Predominant purebred Tuvan horses are of ginger (16.7 %), gray (11.7 %), sorrel (10 %) and brown (10 %) suits. Of the total number of surveyed herd horses, 48 % are typical Tuvan horses meeting the breed’s standard, and the rest 52 % are crossbreeds of trotting, riding and heavy truck breeds. To preserve the gene pool of the Tuvan breed of horses in the conditions of horse herd technology of keeping it is necessary to continue the survey of the regions of the Republic for the purpose of identification of valuable livestock and allocation of perspective farms.