CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN BODY MEASUREMANTS OF MALE AND FEMALE DONKEYS IN BULGARIA

The donkeys, together with other labor animals (mules and hinnies) are the domestic that losing their popularity continually among rural population in Bulgaria. For last decades of donkeys Bulgaria, decreased nearly 10 times, from 328 587 donkey registered 1990 to 35 000 2013. some obvious reasons they were pushed aside, as recent times it is much easier for a smallholder farming cultivate land modern machinery than animal power. Nevertheless, few years many organizations Europe even Bulgaria recall attention an important genetic resource, needs be protected, revived into times. objective experiment was estimate compare body measurements male female reared coat color also recorded order variation inside groups. A total number 198 (74 males 124 females) included study. located different regions From each individual main four taken: height at withers, length, chest circumference cannon bone circumference. average withers 120.40±7.13 cm females 119.75±6.83 cm. Body length respectively 124.47±7.62 123.71±8.01 on average. Mean values circumferences individuals 137.08±9.64 16.15±1.21 cm, same traits 134.16±8.11 15.65±1.27