Use of heart girth to predict body weight of working oxen in the Ethiopian highlands

Abstract

Few studies have been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa where multiple recordings of heart girth and body weight were made for the same cattle population. In this study, monthly measurements were taken of working oxen on 24 smallholder farms in the Ethiopian highlands for 1 year. The overall yearly mean body weight of oxen across working and nonworking periods was 281637 kg. No significant differences in mean monthly body weights were observed, except for December and January compared to August (297636 and 296637, and 271635 kg, respectively, P , 0.05) and December versus April 272635 kg (P , 0.05). Simple linear regression equations derived from body weight and heart girth measurements were significantly different between months. Nevertheless, separate monthly equations and a single equation for the year explained variation in body weight about the same. The monthly equations predicted 83 to 95% of oxen weights to within 610% of 2 weighbridge values, while the equation for the entire year predicted 87%. The R values for the monthly equations ranged 2 from 0.63 to 0.87 and the R value for the entire year was 0.75. The single equation for the year predicted body weight of oxen as a group to within 627 kg of mean monthly weighbridge values, whereas for a single animal the predicted body weight was 637 kg of the actual weight (C.I. 95%). The single equation can be used to monitor mean body weight of the oxen population equally well across working and nonworking periods of the year.

Productivity and morphology of Ankole cattle in three livestock production systems in Uganda

“…Comparative measurements of morphometric traits can also provide evidence of breed relationships and size (Mwacharo et al, 2006) and in some cases can be used to predict an animals' weight (Goe, Alldredge and Light, 2001;Mwacharo et al, 2006). Withers height is useful for visual appraisal and determining show classes for beef cattle (Alderson, 1999).…”

Using body measurements to estimate live weight of dairy cattle in low-input systems in Senegal

“…Thus, the HG model presented here can be considered as a reasonable way to predict the weight of cows for purposes of drug dosing, but for other purposes where more accuracy is required (e.g. selection of cattle on LW), the use of a proper weight scale is preferred (ILCA/IER 1978;Goe et al 2001). …”

Prediction of Live Weight for Brahman Crossbred Cattle Using Linear Body Measurements in Rural Area

“…The body weight was taken using a digital platform weighing scale and recorded to the nearest kilogram (kg), and the body measurements were taken using the tailor's tape. The WH and HH measurements were taken using the measuring plastic tape marked in centimeter (cm) and a special measuring stick made with two arms; one (plastic made) which is held vertical and the other (wooden) at right angle to it sliding by hand vertically up and down to record height while the animals were in standing position on four legs with head maintained in an upright position as described by Goe et al (2001).…”

“…In absence of weighing scales, the main method of determining the weight of animals is to estimate the weight using body measurements those are readily measured. Some studies have been conducted using body linear measurements to estimate the live weight in cattle (Dineur and Thys, 1986;Goe et al, 2001;Mekonnen and Biruk, 2004;Abdelhadi and Babiker, 2009). Among body measurements, heart girth can be used with great accuracy in estimating live weight for all classes of crossbred dairy cattle (Msangi et al, 1999) and for Boran cattle (Nicholson and Sayer, 1987).…”