Coefficients of variation (CV) distribution for several variables in equine nutrition were obtained. The data are from theses and published scientific papers in equine nutrition. The CV were classified as low [CV£(m-1sd)]; medium [(m-1sd)<CV<(m+1sd)]; high [(m+1sd)<CV<(m+2sd)] and very high [CV>(m+2sd)]. The Lilliefors test for all variables showed no discrepancy from normal distribution. The distributions obtained for coefficients of digestibility for cellulose and fibre in neutral and acid detergent, were close enough to the classification suggested in the literature. However, the distributions for coefficient of digestibility for gross energy and lignin, showed high discrepancies from this classification suggesting that trial precision should be evaluated according to the variable considered. There is a different distribution for coefficients of variation for each variable suggesting the need of specific classification for each characteristic in equine studies.
horse; statistic; nutrition; experimental precision
