Estimation Of Body Weight Of Zebu Cattle From Linear Body Measurements:- Okeka, Nwafor I.

ABSTRACT

 A total number of Zebu cattle were involved in a study conducted to predict live weight body measurements. The animals comprising 10 white Fulani, 17 N' dama and 15 White Fulani x N 'dama cross-breeds were selected from the cattle .unit of the University Livestock Farm. The live weight of the animals ranged from 120 to 390kg. The measurements taken were, Height at withers (HW), Body length (BL) and Heart girth (HG). Measured weight (WT) and calculated Weight (CWT) were better in the male than in the· female. The study revealed that Heart Girth (HG) around the hump had the highest correlation coefficient with the live weight (r=0.88; p<0.01). This was followed by BL (r=0.70) and HW (r=0.58), respectively. The regression analysis of live weight on heart girth around the hump was highly significant (p<0.01) indicating a linear relationship existed between the two. The study revealed that Heart girth (HG) could be the most reliable for the estimation of live weights in Zebu cattle followed by Body length (BL) because of the significant correlation (r) value between liveweight and Heart Girth (HG) and body length (BL). The general equation derived for prediction of live weight of zebu cattle in University farm were: Y =-148.824 +6.720 HG; Y=- 205. 458 +- 5.815 HG± 2.273 HW (Where Y = live weight in Kg, HG= Heart girth in cm and HW = height at withers in cm). The linear body measurements can be used to predict live weight of farm animals which will be a useful source of information for farm decision making by the stockman, thereby helping to improve overall productivity of the animals.