Page 26 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW ISSUE 14

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 2 6

Body indices were influenced by the environment too.

There were differences in index of massiveness and cephalic index between dogs
belonging to the three regions, where eastern Sloughis had larger indices, indicating that
eastern dogs had a less athletic body and their head width represented more than 50% of

their head length in comparison to the two other regions (53.32% vs. 51.86% and 51.31%,
respectively). For body/tail index, withers/rump index, and head/neck index, the
differences were significant; western dogs’ tail length represented 62.75% of their body
length (62.75% versus 60.62% and 60.15% for central and eastern dogs, respectively).
Height at withers and height at rump were approximately equal in the central population
compared to the western and the eastern populations, respectively, where height at
withers was larger than height at rump (100.88% versus 101.81% and 102.43%,
respectively). In the eastern population, head length represented 125.14% of neck length,

such that head length was 25.14% larger than neck length; in the western population,
head length was 18.38% larger than neck length; in the central population, head length
was 22.54% larger than neck length. Format index, muzzle/head index, ear/head length
index and ear/head width index were similar.

A general evaluation of the data shows that there were strongly positive phenotypic
correlations between weight and body measurements. Analysis of correlation coefficients
between weight and body measurements according to region showed that the highest
coefficients were obtained in the western region. It was also found that correlation
coefficients between weight and all body measurements were strongest in western
Sloughis for height at withers, height at rump, head length, head width, neck length, body
length, tail length, head circumference, chest circumference, tail circumference, and

forearm circumference; Ear length, muzzle circumference, and wrist circumference; and
muzzle length and waist circumference.

Correlation coefficients were found between weight and head circumference and waist
circumference in central Sloughis, and between weight and neck length in eastern
Sloughis.

Three Separate models were developed for each region for the estimation of weight from
body measurements and coefficients of determination (R2). The calculations led to
promising results in the prediction of live weight in the Algerian Sloughi, especially the
measurements of height at withers, height at rump, chest circumference, body length, tail
circumference and head width.