Variation of the Exterior in the Bulgarian Screw-Horned Longhaired Goat From Two Distribution Areas

Abstract

The Bulgarian Screw-horned longhaired goat is a local breed, distributed in the mountainous regions of Bulgaria. The largest compact herds with preserved breed type of the animals are differentiated into two main habitats. I. The region of Southwestern Bulgaria - mainly in the southern and western border mountains of the Blagoevgrad region (the slopes of Southern Pirin, Slavyanka, Ograzhden, Malashevska mountains). II. The region of Western Stara Planina (settlements along the northern slopes) - mainly the Vratsa and Teteven regions. Exactly from these two areas (Teteven region and settlements in the border regions of Blagoevgrad region) in the 1968 year Professor Altman selects animals for conservation work with this breed in the GDR (1). Initial monitoring of the population shows some variation in the exterior signs of specimens in the two native distribution areas. This requires a detailed study and comparative analysis of the exterior in specimens from the respective areas. For the purposes of the study, complete measurements and descriptions of the exterior were performed in 50 goats and 20 bucks, respectively, from each areal. The Bulgarian Screw-horned longhaired goat from the area of Northwestern Stara Planina was larger and more massive than the animals from the area of Southwestern Bulgaria. The heigh at withers for the goats from the Vratsa region was 74.42 cm and 66.06 cm in goats from the Sandanski region. This sign in the bucks also shows a difference of almost 10 cm - 83.75 and 72.45, respectively for male animals from the two regions. The differences were proven with a high degree of probability. The goats from the area of ​​Northwestern Stara Planina has a longer and broader head, the ears were proven to be longer, than in the animals from Southwestern Bulgaria. The horns of both male and female specimens from the Vratsa region were extremely rough and massive. The differences were proven with a high degree of probability.