The estimation accuracy of live weight from metric body measurements in Ongole grade cows

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate live weight in Ongole grade cow using its chest girth and body length in North Sulawesi province. Data on animal live weight (LW), body length (BL) and chest girth (CG) were collected from all cows (n=363) kept by traditional household farmers. Regression analysis was carried out to estimate LW from all linear body measurements. Data were classified based on age of animals consisted of five groups with the first age group of two and half years old, to the fifth age group of seven and half years old. The results showed that age significantly (P<0.05) influenced all body measurements. Correlations between all pairs of measurements were highly significant (P<0.001) for all age groups. Regression analysis showed that live weight could be predicted accurately from chest girth and body length (R2=0.97). Multiple regression model can be recommended to predict live weight of Ongole grade cows based on those variables with their age groups ranging from 2.5 to ≥7.5 years old as follows: Live weight (kg) = -806.410 + 4.79835 CG (cm) + 2.83500 BL (cm).