Relationship of body weight with linear body measurements in goats

Abstract

The present research work was conducted at Livestock Research and Development Station Surezai, Peshawar. Data was collected on 86 goats of different age groups. 44 were male and 42 were female. The mean bodyweight of male in four age groups (04-12,13-18,19-24, 24-36 months and above) were observed as 18.60 ± 1.81, 25.25 ± 2.76, 29.86 ± 1.28 and 41.47 ± 1.63kg, respectively while that of female in the same age groups were noted as 14.50 ± 1.19, 21.0 ± 3.47, 24.00 ± 1.25, 33.95 ± 4.97kg, respectively. The body length of male recorded in these age groups were found to be 59.60 ± 0.74, 64.38 ± 1.39, 69.42 ± 0.29, 78.15 ± 0.60cm while that of female in these age groups were investigated to be 58.70 ± 0.84, 60.14 ± 0.50, 62.16 ± 0.60, 69.31 ± 1.85cm, respectively. The mean height at withers in male in four age groups were noted to be 60.30 ± 1.16, 68.25 ± 1.42, 72.14 ± 0.67, 82.11 ± 1.02cm while that of female in these age groups were recorded to be 56.50 ± 1.28, 63.14 ± 0.55, 66.50 ± 1.18 and 71.42 ± 2.31cm, respectively. The mean heart girth in male in these age groups were recorded to be 59.10 ± 0.86, 66.0 ± 3.19, 70.29 ± 1.19, 79.63 ± 0.96cm, respectively. In case of female mean heart girth was noted to be 57.60 ± 0.95, 61.29 ± 1.27, 64.00 ± 0.68 and 70.15 ± 1.80cm, respectively. Bodyweight was correlated with body length (0.49, 0.12, 0.70, and 0.78), height at withers (0.75, 0.54, 0.62, and 0.72) and heart girth (0.64, 0.55, 0.53, and 0.71), respectively. During present investigation male were found heavier (p<0.05) and