The seasonal changes in the skin thickness and structure of the horses’ coat, as signs of adaptation to environmental factors, were studied. The experiment was carried out with the livestock kept in a herd using winter-grazing technology without additional feedings in the climatic conditions of the Trans-Baikal Territory. The objects of the research were adult mares of Zabaikalsky breed of horses of the same age, class and fatness. The studies were carried out in the middle of each season (May, July, October, February). The length of the coat was measured with a caliper, the coat itself with the determination of the ratio of hair (fl uffy hair, heterotype hair and coarse hair) and the thickness of the skin fold were measured in accordance with the approved methodological recommendations. The minimum skin thickness in winter was detected in mares on the back and shoulder blade – 4.3 and 4.4 mm, the maximum – on the side and thigh – 4.5 4.6 mm. When compared with the summer period, the increase on the side was 0.8 mm, whereas on the back, shoulder blade and thigh – 0.4 mm (p ≤ 0,001). In spring, thickening of the skin was noted within 0.1-0.3 mm in the same topographic areas, compared to autumn. The quantitative indicators of the coat changed depending on the season of the year. In winter, the coat contained more fl uffy hair (23.10%), and less coarse hair (68.24%), in summer there was a lower content of fl uffy hair (4.33%), but more coarse hair (94.01%.) Sharp seasonal changes were noted with regard to the length of the hair. The longest hair was found in winter and spring – 4.96 and 4.26 cm, whereas the shortest – in summer and autumn – 0.94 and 1.90 cm, respectively.
84 Evaluation of hair coat shedding ability as an adaptive trait in Angus cattle in the southern U.S