Characterization, reference ranges and the influence of gender on morphological parameters of the endangered Catalonian donkey breed

This study characterizes morphometrically a limited-size population in danger of extinction; the Catalonian donkey breed (Spain). Sixty-nine adult individuals of both genders, forty-four jennies and 25 stallions, were characterised and analyzed for twenty-six morphological measurements and twelve corporal indices by a univariate procedure. The population showed little sexual dimorphism, since only eight of twenty-six measures and one of twelve indices showed statistically significant differences for gender effect. The analysis of correlations between measures and obtained dendrograms allowed the identification of interactions between and within the different corporal regions (head, trunk and extremities). The important morphological variability degree (coefficients of variation) shown by individuals of the Catalonian donkey breed will be of great interest to further improve the population.