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Body measurements of west African dwarf sheep as parameters for estimation of live weight

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Abstract

The relationships between live weight and eight body measurements of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep were studied using 210 animals under on farm condition. Data obtained on height at withers (HW), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), head length (HL), head width (HDW), loin girth (LG), length of hindquarter (LHQ) and width of hindquarter (WHQ) were fitted into linear, allometric and multiple regression models to predict live weight from the body measurements. Results revealed that body measurements of WAD sheep were generally higher in the rams than in the ewes. Coefficient of determination (R2) values computed for the body measurements were generally higher (0.87–0.99) using allometric regression model than linear regression model (0.44–0.94). Heart girth (HG) and WHQ depicted the highest relationship to live weight in linear and allometric models compared to other body measurements. Based on stepwise elimination procedure, HG, HL and WHQ were better in predicting live weight in multiple linear regression models. The magnitude of correlation coefficient (r) indicate that WHQ shows the highest correlation with live weight (r = 0.96) compared to HG (r = 0.94).

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Abbreviations

BL:

body length

BM:

body measurements

Cm:

centimeter

HDW:

head width

HG:

heart girth

HL:

head length

HW:

head width

LB:

length of brisket

LG:

loin girth

LHQ:

length of hindquarter

WAD:

West African Dwarf

WHQ:

width of hindquarter

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Production and Health, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production University of Agriculture, P. M. B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria

    O. S. Sowande

  2. Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production University of Agriculture, P. M. B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria

    O. S. Sobola

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  1. O. S. Sowande
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  2. O. S. Sobola
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Correspondence to O. S. Sowande.

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Sowande, O.S., Sobola, O.S. Body measurements of west African dwarf sheep as parameters for estimation of live weight. Trop Anim Health Prod 40, 433–439 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9116-z

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