The correlation of body weight to external body measurements in goats
A study to determine the correlation of body weight to certain external body measurements in goats is herein reported. The breed groups represented were 1) Purebreds (Nubian, Saanen, Alpine, Toggenburg); 2) Nubian grades and crossbreds (50 percent to 87.5 percent) and 3) Mixed grades-natives. Data was collected in four selected goat farms. The coefficients of correlations between body weight and the various body measurements - heart girth, height, midriff girth, flank girth and body length, were highly significant at 1 percent level in all the breed groups. Taking the breed groups individually, however, the coefficient of correlations between body weight and the various body measurements were highest in purebreds, followed by Nubian grades and crossbreds (50 percent - 87.5 percent), and mixed grades-natives in that order. All possible combinations of the five body measurements considered showed high corelations - the more variables, the greater the degree of correlation. Use of body measurements in determining body weight is a practical tool for the veterinary practitioner, livestock inspector and goat raiser under field conditions. Singly, the heart girth is the best gauge of a goat's body weight in all the breed groups studied, the coefficient of determination being 90.25 percent. Using any two dimensions together, the combination of heart girth and height whose coefficient to determination is 90.65 percent is the best determinant of the weight of a goat
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
Scottsdale, AZ (EUA)
1982
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