Identification of a historic horse ecotype analyzing speech content in central Brazil

ABSTRACT This study represents a first attempt to rescue germplasm of a traditional domestic equine cited in early Iberian and South American literature as Curraleiro horse. As an effort to identify and possibly characterize this type of horse we accessed traditional knowledge in strategic rural areas. Most areas were configured by hinterland settlements founded by runaway slave communities from the sixteenth century. Twenty interviews were conducted and analyzed using classical Speech Content Analysis. As a result, five response categories were recognized: 1) Identification and location of Curraleiro horses; 2) Characterization of Curraleiro horses; 3) Historical aspects; 4) Curraleiro horse conservation prospects and 5) Sanitary and productive aspects of Curraleiro horse breeding. We concluded that although scarce, the Curraleiro horse, cited in literature, still exists and showed phenotypical features which allow fine discrimination from any officially recognized breed in Brazil. Our findings may open the door for the recognition of a genuine animal resource which could play a role in rural development for specific regions and traditional communities. Speech Content Analysis was effective for in loco identification and characterization of rare traditional livestock. Thus, we encourage the usage of this tool as an alternative to subsidize identification and genetic conservation programs worldwide.

摘要
本研究首次尝试抢救早期伊比利亚半岛与南美文献中记载为库拉莱罗马（Curraleiro horse）的传统家马种质资源。为识别并初步表征该类马种，我们在重点乡村区域调研了传统知识。上述区域大多为16世纪逃奴社群建立的内陆定居点。本研究共开展20次访谈，并采用经典言语内容分析法对访谈数据进行分析。最终归纳出5类访谈主题：1. 库拉莱罗马的识别与分布；2. 库拉莱罗马的特征表征；3. 历史沿革；4. 库拉莱罗马的保护前景；5. 库拉莱罗马养殖的卫生与生产维度。研究结果表明：尽管种群稀少，但文献记载的库拉莱罗马仍存续于世，其表型特征可与巴西官方认证的所有马种实现精准区分。本研究成果可为该本土畜禽资源的认定提供依据，进而为特定区域与传统社群的乡村发展发挥支撑作用。言语内容分析法可有效实现稀有传统畜禽的实地识别与表型表征，因此我们呼吁在全球范围内推广该方法，为畜禽识别与遗传保护项目提供辅助支持。