Lithuanian
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Names: Lithuanian, Lithuanian Heavy Draft. I will use the shorter on this page.
Origin: This
breed was developed in Lithuania by crossing Zhumudka horses with the Swedish Ardennes.
The third and fourth generation crossbreds (2nd and 3rd backcrosses)
were bred inter se. The breeding began in the early 20th century and the breed
was recognized in 1963. In 1964 there were 62,000 Lithuanian Heavy Drafts in
Lithuania.
The Lithuanian and the Latvian
are both based on small northern Zemaitukas and imported Finnish
Drafts, with later crosses of Swedish Ardennes
and Oldenburg.
Breeding: When used to improve meat and milk yield in native
Altai horses, first crosses and backcrosses had better live weight indices and
higher growth rate; they better withstood the conditions of year-round grazing.
Crossbreeding of the native Altai and improved horses with the Lithuanian Heavy
Draft is being used to develop a new breed.
The Lithuanian comprises 9 lines. It is bred at Nyamun, Sudav and Zhagar studs and at
horse breeding units of collective and state farms. (I will look into
these farms when I have more time and find out if they are still active.)
Description: The breed has a solid build, large size and harmonious body proportions. Defects include coarse head, dipped back, pin-toes and sickle-hocked hind legs.
Back: Long and sometimes a little dipped.
Color: The most common colors are chestnut and bay.
Croup: Broad, long and well muscled.
Head: Coarse, clean cut and large.
Legs: Solid and properly set.
Loin: Flat and broad.
Neck: Short and well muscled.
Size:
For quick reference, the stallions are an average of 15 and a half hands; the
mares are a little more than 15 hands.
The
average measurement (in centimeters) of breeding stallions are: height at withers 160,
oblique body length 166, chest girth 205, cannon bone girth 24; mares: 157, 165,
200 and 23 respectively. The stallions' live weight varies from 850 to 920
kg.
Temperament:
Features: Just
for an example, the first record is a little over a mile with a pull of about
330 pounds.
The performance
records are as follows. The 2000 m walking Draft record with a pull of 150 kg is
13 min 20 sec; the trotting Draft record for the same distance and a pull of 50
kg is 4 min 45 sec. The Draft endurance with a pull of 300 kg is 1397 m with a
maximum pull of 860 kg.
The Lithuanian Heavy Draft has good longevity and fairly high fertility. The
foal crop at the best studs is 80%; survival rate up to one year of age is
76-79%.
Their
solid build enables Lithuanian Heavy Drafts to display good adaptability to
extreme and harsh conditions.
Uses:
Accomplishments:
Curiosities:
Profiles:
Conclusion: