Belgian Draught
Conservation status
Other names
  • Belgisch trekpaard
  • Brabançon
  • Brabant
  • Brabants trekpaard
  • Brabander
  • Cheval de trait belge
Country of originBelgium
Usefarm work, heavy haulage
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    900 kg[2]
  • Female:
    700 kg[2]
Height
  • Male:
    168 cm[2]
  • Female:
    164 cm[2]
The stallion Brillant, painting by Charles-Philogène Tschaggeny
Brabant horses, painting by Henry Schouten [nl] (1857–1927)

The Belgian Draught, Dutch: Belgisch Trekpaard, French: Trait belge, is a Belgian breed of draught horse. It originates in the region of the Low Countries that is now central Belgium, and may also be called the Brabant after the former Province of Brabant in that area.

The American Belgian Draught derives from the same original stock, but has developed differently.

History

The Belgian Draught descends from the heavy farm horses of the region of the Low Countries that is now central Belgium: the Colosse de la Méhaigne[a] from the valley of the Méhaigne in the area of Namur; the Gris de Nivelles et du Hainaut[b], named for Hainaut region and for the city of Nivelles, now in Walloon Brabant; and the Gros de la Dendre[c], named for the Dender river, from East Flanders and the area that is now Flemish Brabant.[3]: 443 [4]: 166 

Documented breeding was recorded in the seventeenth century, with the first studbook founded in 1886. The first known imported Belgian to America was in the late nineteenth century.

Closely related breeds include the Ardennais,[5] Flemish Horse, Nederlands Trekpaard,[6][7] and Trait du Nord.[8]

The American Belgian Draught derives from the same original stock, but has developed differently. It is generally taller and less heavily built, and has a very different distribution of coat colours.[3]: 434 [4]: 166 

Characteristics

It is a tall, powerful and massive horse. Heights at the withers are usually in the range 163–173 cm, with an average height of 164 cm for mares and 168 cm for stallions.[4]: 166 [3]: 443 [2] Average weights are approximately 700 kg for mares and 900 kg for stallions, but weights of over 1000 kg are not uncommon.[4]: 166 [3]: 443 [2] The roan coat colour predominates, accounting for about 80% of all of the horses; some 12% are bay, and the remainder chestnut, black or grey.[3]: 443 

Genetic diversity

The Belgian Draught horse has been identified as having an intermediate level of genetic diversity, and found to have relatively low levels of inbreeding. However, due to low founder diversity, the breed is identified as likely to have a potential compromise of genetic diversity in future generations.[9]

Carrying shrimping gear in Oostduinkerke

Notes

  1. ^ Dutch: Koloss uit de Méhaignestreek
  2. ^ Dutch: Grijs van Henegouwen of van Nijvel
  3. ^ Dutch: Dikke uit de Dendervallei

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belgian Draught.
  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Breed data sheet: Cheval de Trait Belge / Belgium (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  4. ^ a b c d Élise Rousseau, Yann Le Bris, Teresa Lavender Fagan (2017). Horses of the World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691167206.
  5. ^ "Alles over het Belgisch trekpaard". www.bitmagazine.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  6. ^ "Nederlands trekpaard | Bedreigd Nederlands Ras". Stichting Zeldzame Huisdierrassen (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  7. ^ Horses.nl, Redactie (3 April 2008). "Nederlands trekpaard". Horses (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  8. ^ "Parc naturel régional Scarpe-Escaut - Espace professionnel - Le Pôle Trait du Nord". 2009-06-02. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  9. ^ Janssens, S.; Stinckens, A.; Schroyen, M.; Peeters, L.; De Keyser, K.; De Wael, R.; Lamberigts, C.; Luyten, T.; Ons, E.; Buys, N. (December 2010). "Genetic diversity in the Belgian Draught Horse breed as revealed by pedigree analysis and molecular marker data: Brief Note". Animal Genetics. 41: 205–206. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02114.x.
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