Prediction of Live Weight for Brahman Crossbred Cattle Using Linear Body Measurements in Rural Area

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the relationship between morphometric measurements and weight and to predict live weight of Brahman X Local crossbred cattle using linear body measurements. A total of 100 male and 85 female Brahman X Local crossbred cattle of 6 to 33 months age were used for the study. The study revealed that most of the morphometric measurements were linearly increased with the advances of age. The body weight had highest correlation coefficient with heart girth (HG) around the chest (r=0.95) and lowest with ear length (r=0.70) compared with other body measurements. Grouping of data according to age indicated that correlation coefficients of heart girth with body weight were similar for all age groups. The stepwise regression models indicated that heart girth singly accounted highest variation (91%) in body weight for all animals. Thus, the general equation for prediction of live weight (Y) of Brahman crossbred cattle was Y=4.447HG -390.2 (11.3). The regression equations for the live weight were Y=2.554HG -173.90(12.3), Y=3.988HG -336.3(11.0) and Y=5.854HG -596.0(30.0) for equal or less than 12 months, above 12 to 24 months and above 24 months age groups, respectively. Body length (BL) and HG combined together gave the best fitted model for estimating body weight for all animals, which was Y=3.549HG + 1.251BL -408.85(11.7). The results suggested that prediction equations based on HG or in combination of HG and body length can be used efficiently to predict live weight of Brahman crossbred cattle in rural condition.