Lithuanian Heavy Truck

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 12:33

The Lithuanian heavy draft is a heavy draft breed developed in Lithuania. It was approved as an independent plant in 1963. During the breeding, a complex crossing (absorption and reproduction) of local Zhmud horses with heavy draft breeds, mainly with the Swedish Ardennes, was used. The popularity of heavy draft horses grew rapidly and already in 1964 more than 62,000 horses were registered exported to Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Germany.

When selecting for the tribe, horses with good movements, strong and hardy in agricultural work, unpretentious to feed and pasture conditions were preferred. An important role in improving the local livestock was played by the Nyamunskaya, Zhagarskaya, Gudava and Vilnius state factory stables, as well as the Kedainiai and Taurage breeding nurseries.

The first herdbook was created in 1948 and closed in 1996.

Photo © Sheva

Lithuanian heavy-duty trucks of powerful constitution: they have a large head with a straight profile; muscular short neck; medium in height and length of the withers; wide, straight back; the chest is wide, deep and muscular; strong lower back; the croup is wide, long and muscular; the croup is clearly divided due to the pronounced gluteal muscles; the limbs are short, strong, well set, with strong joints and well-formed hooves; the coat is long, coarse, dense.

The temperament of the Lithuanian heavy-harness horses is balanced, calm, the horses are easy to handle. Unlike other heavy breeds, it is characterized by a very mobile gait.

Photo © Sheva

The dimensions of the stud stallions recorded in the IV volume of the State Book are the following, cm: height at the withers - 157.2, body length 164.2, chest girth - 199.2, cannon girth - 24.0; live weight - 700 kg. The sizes of mares are respectively 153.7-162.4-191.9-22.5; live weight - 646 kg.

The main colors are red, often with light bangs, mane and tail; brown, bay and red-roan.

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The working qualities of the horses are very high. The most developed step gait. So, the stallion Aras at the age of 9 years on special trials drove a cart with a load of 4.5 tons at a pace over a distance of 2 km in 13 minutes 20 seconds. Lithuanian heavy trucks are distinguished by good health and longevity. Many of them retain their reproductive abilities up to 20 years and older. The mares are dairy, they feed foals well. Lactation lasts an average of 210 days.

Photo © Lerik

Currently, Lithuanian heavy trucks are used in agriculture, forestry, for the production of meat and milk, work in national parks, etc. Due to their valuable characteristics and good acclimatization, Lithuanian heavy trucks are used as improvers for local horse stock in many regions of the Russian Federation, in Ukraine and Belarus. In the Altai Territory, they are a selection material for the development of a new breed of horses with a meat and dairy production direction.

Today there are nine lines in the breed. The number of Lithuanian heavy trucks began to decline in the 1980s, and there are now less than 1000 heads.