10.2190/ES.32.4.a N41TV88GM2228811 1 Assessment of the Traditional Production of the Hybrids of Indian Wild Asses (<i>Equus hemionus khur</i>) and Jennies (<i>Equus asinus</i>) in Kutch, Gujarat 275 289 20111121 20111121 20111121 20111121 N41TV88GM2228811.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=N41TV88GM2228811 4 Rikako Kimura Mioko Masuda Frenny Sheth Jayesh Sheth Research Institute on Human-Equids Relationships, India Graduate School, Mongolian State University of Agriculture FRIGE, Genetics Centre, India The purpose of this study is to assess the traditional and regional system of producing inter-specific hybrids of Indian wild ass and native jennies, by analysis of production method, market value, draughtability, and characteristics and temperament of the animal. Loading and speed tests significantly confirmed that the hybrids have higher draughtability than jennies, but there was no difference between jacks. Temperaments were more nervous than with donkeys. Productions by transhumant communities were subject to vagaries of rainfall and accident during pasturing and migration. The market value was 10 times or more than that of a donkey. Contaminating the wild gene pool with domestic genes is avoided by taking advantage of social structure "territoriality" of wild ass. W. Herre and M. Röhrs, <i>Haustiere- zoologisch gesehen [Domestic animals—from a zoological point of view]</i>, Gustav Fisher, Stuttgart, 1973. (in German). I. N. Shatilov, Report of Tarpans. <i>Proceedings of Royal Association for Naturalization</i>, Moscow, April 17, 1988. (in Russian). J. T. Heinen, Phenotypic and Behavioural Characteristic Used to Identity Wild Buffalo Bubalus Bubalis from Feral Backcrosses in Nepal, <i>Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 99</i>:2, pp. 173-183, 2002. J. Clutton-Brock, <i>Horse Power</i>, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1992. C. G. Joshi, D. N. Rank, R. G. Jani, P. H. Tank, B. P. Brahmkshtri, P. H. Vataliya, and J. V. Solanki, A Case of E. asinus x E. hemionus khur Hybrid, <i>Indian Veterinary Journal, 78</i>, pp. 549-550, 2001. H. S. Singh, Indian Wild Ass (<i>Equus hemionus khur</i>) in the Little Rann of the Kutch, Gujarat, India, <i>Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 98</i>:3, pp. 327-334, 2001. H. S. Singh and B. R. Raval, <i>Ecological Study of Wild Ass Sanctuary</i>, Gujarat Ecological Education & Research Foundation, Gandinagar and Forest Department of Gujarat State, 1999. E. D. Svendsen, <i>The Professional Handbook of Donkey</i>, Whittet Books, Suffolk, 1997. P. J. Mueller, M. T. Jones, R. E. Rawson, P. J. Van Saest, and H. F. Hintz, Effect of Increasing Work Rate on Metabolic Responses of the Donkey (<i>Equus asinus</i>), <i>Journal of Applied Physiology, 77</i>:3, pp. 1431-1438, 1994. J. M. French, Assessment of Donkey Temperament and the Influence of Home Environment, <i>Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 36</i>, pp. 249-257, 1993. J. N. Postgate, The Equids of Sumer, Again, in <i>Equids in the Ancient World</i>, R. H. Meadow and H-P. Uerpmann (eds.), Dr. Ludwig, Reichert Verlag, Weisbaden, pp. 194-206, 1986. D. I. Rubenstein, Ecology and Sociality in Horses and Zebras, in <i>Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution</i>, D. I. Rubenstein and R. W. Warngham (eds.), Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, pp. 282-302, 1986. A. Archi, The Regional State of Nagar According to the Texts of Ebla, <i>Subartu, 4</i>, pp. 1-5, 1998. J. Oates, Equids Figurines and "Chariot" Models, in <i>Excavations at Tell Brak, Vol.2: Nagar in the Third Millennium BC</i>, D. Oates, J. Oates, and H. McDonald (eds.), McDonald Institute Monographs, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, pp. 279-283, 2001. J. G. Zinkl, D. Mae, P. G. Meridae, T. B. Farver, and J. A. Humble, Reference Ranges and the Influence of Age and Sex on Hematologic and Serum Biochemical Values in Donkeys (<i>Equus asinus</i>), <i>American Journal of Veterinary Research, 51</i>:3, pp. 408-413, 1990. A. Rao and M. J. Casimir, Mobile Pastoralists of Jammu and Kashmir, <i>Nomadic Peoples, 10</i>, pp. 40-50, 1982. N. A. Farooquee and K. S. Rao, Conservation and Utilization of Indigenous Cattle and Livestock among the Transhumant Pastoralists of Kumaun Hymalaya (India), <i>Journal of Environment Systems, 27</i>:2, pp. 317-329, 1999. M. J. Casimir, Pastoral Nomadism in a West Himalayan Valley Sustainability and Herd Management, in <i>Nomadism in South Asia</i>, A. Rao and M. J. Casimir (eds.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 81-103, 2003. R. R. Parasad, <i>Pastoral Nomadism in Arid Zones of India</i>, Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi, 1994.