• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2007

The capability of microsatellite markers for individual identification and their potential for breed assignment of individuals was evaluated in two Indian horse breeds. The strength of these individual assignment methods was also evaluated by increasing the number of loci in increments of five. The probability of identity of two random horses from the two breeds at all twenty five studied loci was as low as $1.08{\times}10^{-32}$ showing their suitability to distinguish between individual horses and their products. In the phylogenetic approach for individual assignment using Nei's genetic distances, 10.81% of horses associated with breed other than the major cluster of the source breed horses when all twenty five microsatellite loci were implemented. Similar results were obtained when the maximum likelihood approach for individual assignment was used. Based on these results it is proposed that, although microsatellite markers may prove very useful for individual identification, their utility for breed assignment of horses needs further evaluation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1215-1221
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• 2002

Normal haematological and biochemical indices along with thyroid hormone status were studied in healthy Kathiawari horses of different age groups (yearling, young stock, adults and old stock) belonging to either sex. Effect of both age and sex was observed on thyroid hormone levels, haematological and biochemical indices. In females, hemoglobin levels was significantly lower in yearlings than adult animals while total leukocyte counts were higher in yearlings than equids of other age groups. Sex had effect only on total erythrocyte counts, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin in horses of 1-3 years age group (young stock) and on packed cell volume in adult female and male equids. Among biochemical indices, activities of enzymes were observed to be influenced both by age and sex. Creatine kinase, gamma glutamyl transferase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in young and adult equids than animals of other age groups in Kathiawari horses while activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in yearlings than equids belonging to other age groups in both male and females. However, activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase was unaltered due to both sex and age factor. Albumin, bilirubin direct, bilirubin total, cholesterol, creatinine, protein, triglyceride and uric acid were statistically different in various age and sex groups of horses. Calcium, magnesium and chloride contents were almost same in various age groups of male horses. Significantly higher levels of $T_3$ and $T_4$ were observed in both male and female yearlings as compared to equids of other age groups in both the sexes.