Nonlinear Models for the Prediction of Yearly Live Weight of Cattle

Abstract

Background: Growth of animals is important for milk and meat production. In developing countries record keeping is difficult and usually complete recording cannot be obtained from the cattle farming. Mathematical models are used to predict values from incomplete or partially recorded data and reduces the confusion for calculating the yield. Therefore, a study was conducted to know the growth of cattle by comparing three non-linear models and predicts the mature live weight. Methods: The live weight of cattle at 15 day intervals from 15 to 365 days was recorded and calculated the yearly live weight and weight gains of three genotypes (Red Chittagong cattle, Non-descriptive deshi and their cross) of cattle. Three nonlinear model (Brody, Gompertz and von Bertalanffy model) was fitted to weight-age data of 120 female cattle from 15 to 365 days in three locations. Result: The average live weight and weight gain of three genotype cattle ranging from 198.5 to 207.89 kg and 306 to 361 g/day, respectively. The brody model provides better goodness of fit than other models in all genotypes and Gompertz and the von Bertalanffy model showed better matched between the observed and estimated weights.