The Morphometric Scale to Predict the Live Weight of Malpura Sheep in Semi-arid Region of Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: The Malpura sheep is hardy breed of semi-arid region of Rajasthan. Farmers do not get the due share for their heavy weight lambs as animals are never sold on weight basis. Researchers have worked out the ways of predicting the live weight of sheep/goats using body measurements. However, very few studies have tried to address this issue, especially in India. Aim of this study was to construct a prediction scale for live weight of sheep using simple measure of heart girth and body length, such scale will further benefit the shepherds to guess the live weight of the lambs sold and expect the desired price from the customer. Methods: The present study was conducted on 1164 records of 823 Malpura sheep at CSWRI, Avikanagar. The data on live weight (N=1164) and corresponding morphometric measures on heart girth and body length were digitalized and subjected to analysis. we used 14 linear predictors and regressed them on the live weight to obtain the estimates of regression, coefficient of determination and derived the prediction equations using the regression coefficients for prediction of live weights. Result: Our study revealed that it is possible to create a measurement scale for prediction of live weight of the sheep using simple arithmetic. Several linear regression scales using body length and heart girth were developed. The best scale (L+G) had a prediction equation as: Y = -49.743+0.576L+0.562G, where Y is live weight. The R2 was 0.883, which was not significantly more than linear regression scale (L+G). This will help the farmers to quite confidently score animals for their live weights across all the age groups. With the help of measurement tape, he can easily measure the heart girth and the body length of the sheep.

Estimates of genetic parameters for linear body measurements and prediction of body weight in goat

“…Similarly, for estimating the live body weight of sheep and goats, several researchers have recommended using solely heart girth, owing to ease of use for field animals (Kumar et al, 2018;Mayaka et al, 1996;Mohammed & Amin, 1996;Myeni & Slippers, 1997;Nsoso et al, 2003;Ravimurugan et al, 2013, Singh et al, 2020Slippers et al, 2000;Topai & Macit, 2004). In accordance with our findings, Adamu et al (2020), Adeyinka and Mohammed (2006), Kumar et al (2021), Fajemilehin and Salako (2008), Pesmen & Yardimci (2008) Bold indicates new proposed scale for ease of use.…”

“…Results from earlier studies by various workers demonstrate that heart girth is the most precise and simplest predictor amongst linear body measurements in cattle (Delage et al, 1955). Similarly, for estimating the live body weight of sheep and goats, several researchers have recommended using solely heart girth, owing to ease of use for field animals (Kumar et al, 2018; Mayaka et al, 1996; Mohammed & Amin, 1996; Myeni & Slippers, 1997; Nsoso et al, 2003; Ravimurugan et al, 2013, Singh et al, 2020; Slippers et al, 2000; Topai & Macit, 2004). In accordance with our findings, Adamu et al (2020), Adeyinka and Mohammed (2006), Kumar et al (2021), Fajemilehin and Salako (2008), Pesmen & Yardimci (2008) and Yilmaz et al (2013) suggested the use of both body length and heart girth as the most appropriate metrics for predicting live body weight.…”

“…In such areas where resources are scarce, predicting live weight using body measurements is feasible, quicker and less expensive (Nsoso et al, 2003). Several researchers have reported on the use of linear body measurements to estimate live weight in goats (Adamu et al, 2020;Adeyinka & Mohammed, 2006;Fajemilehin & Salako, 2008;Mayaka et al, 1996;Mohammed & Amin, 1996;Myeni & Slippers, 1997;Nsoso et al, 2003;Pesmen & Yardimci, 2008;Singh et al, 2020;Slippers et al, 2000) and in sheep (Kumar et al, 2018(Kumar et al, , 2021Ravimurugan et al, 2013;Topai & Macit, 2004;Yilmaz et al, 2013). Predicting body weights using simple measuring tape may help goat-herders to increase their income through the sale of kids.…”

The Use of Sheep Producers of the Akzhaik Meat and Wool Breed to Improve the Meat Productivity of Fine-Fleeced Sheep

“…With increasing age, the energy of growth decreases. One of the indicators of the intensity of growth of young animals is the average daily increase in body weight [18,19,20].…”

Soil-plant-animal Continuum Concerning the Certain Micro-mineral Status of Indigenous Sheep in Hot Semi-arid Regions

“…The trace mineral requirement for different stages of life, like maintenance, lactation, pregnancy and growth requirements is the true need of tissue, which must be supplied in diet. In semi-arid regions of India, majorities of livestock are maintained under limited input systems (Kumar et al 2021) by resource constraint farmers for their livelihood as they don't have enough feeding resources for their livestock towards optimizing their productivity (Sahoo et al 2013). Under this situation, there is an urgent need to decipher the micromineral flow in livestock to suggest suitable mineral supplementation strategies for farmers rearing livestock under semi-arid conditions which are more resourcedependent and vulnerable to environmental stressors.…”