Some Morphological Characteristics of Kangal Shepherd Dogs (Karabas) Raised at Villages by Farmers in Kirikkale Province

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine some morphological characteristics of Kangal (Karabash) dogs raised by private breeders and in civil farms in countryside. Data were collected from Kirikkale province in Middle Anatolia region of Turkey. Total 50 Kangal dogs, 38 male and 12 female were examined. Data were analyzed for sex and age groups. The Duncan test was used for detecting different among groups. This study is the first study about Kangal dogs bred by shepherds at villages and rural areas. Means of the Wither Height (WH), Chest Circumference (CC), the Rump Height (RH), the Rump Length (RL), the Rump Width (RW), Body Length (BL), Chest Depth (CD), Chest Length (CL), the Front Wrist Circumference (FWC), Head Legth (HL), Head Circumference (HC), the Ear Length (EL), Distance Between Ears (DBE), Breadth of Front Chest (BFC), Body Weight (BW), Body Index (the proportion of body length and wither height) (BI), Bone Index (BI2) for Kangal (Karabash) dogs were found 75.91 +/- 0.97, 86.12 +/- 1.53, 75.92 +/- 0.99, 21.85 +/- 0.75, 19.44 +/- 0.69, 74.77 +/- 0.93, 37.62 +/- 0.81, 34.43 +/- 0.82, 16.57 +/- 0.40, 29.09 +/- 0.47, 58.14 +/- 0.96, 14.32 +/- 0.42, 19.04 +/- 0.52 and 22.41 +/- 0.73 cm, 50.77 +/- 2.05 kg, 1.20 +/- 0.03, and 0.22 +/- 0.01. Effects of sex of dog on WH, RH and HC were statistically significant (p<0.001-p<0.01), effect on sex of dog on BW and CC were statistically significant (p<0.05). There are significant differences between male and female Kangal dogs for the live weight and somebody measurements. Effect of age of dogs on BI was only statistically significant (p<0.005). In conclusion, it can be said that body measurements and body weigh of Kangal dogs reared at Kirikkale province was generally slightly higher than other regions of Turkey.