scholarly journals Application of path analysis methodology in assessing the relationship between body weight and biometric traits of Red Sokoto goats in northern Nigeria

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yakubu ◽  
G.L. Mohammed

Relationship between body weight (BW) and seven morphobiometrical traits [withers height (WH), body length (BL), chest girth (CG), shoulder width (SW), ear length (EL), cannon circumference (CC) and neck circumference (NC)] were studied in 142 Red Sokoto goats aged 19.3-30.6 months old using path analysis. The animals were randomly selected in certain smallholders? farms located in northern Nigeria. Pair-wise correlations among body weights and linear type traits were positive and highly significant (r = 0.74 - 0.92; P< 0.01). The path analysis revealed that body length had the highest direct effect on body weight, closely followed by chest girth and shoulder width, respectively (path coefficient = 0.354, 0.253 and 0.214 for BL, CG and SW, respectively). The optimum linear regression model with a coefficient of determination ( R2) value of 0.934 included forecast indices, such as body length, chest girth, shoulder width, cannon circumference and neck circumference. This regression equation could be used to predict the body weight of Red Sokoto goats in the field and for selection purposes.

Author(s):  
M. Rani ◽  
B. Ekambaram ◽  
B. Punya Kumari

Data on 1350 Nellore sheep of 2, 4, 6 and 8-teeth age, reared under field conditions in 12 mandals of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh were utilized for development of prediction equations and study the phenotypic association among body measurements and body weights. The coefficients of correlation between body weight with the height at withers, chest girth, paunch girth, hip width and body length were positive and high in magnitude in both males and females in majority of the age groups studied. Step-down regression equations were fitted to predict the body weight based on biometrical measurements at different ages. The height at withers, chest girth, paunch girth, hip width and body length have contributed significantly to the expression of body weights at the majority of the ages studied. High coefficient of determination (R2) value was observed in males at 6 and 8-teeth age as 88 per cent, while in females 50 per cent at 2-teeth age.


Author(s):  
N. S. Machebe ◽  
A. G. Ezekwe ◽  
G. C. Okeke ◽  
S. Banik

The aim of this study was to set up direct and indirect casual effects between body weight and biometric measurements of breeding gilts at growing and finishing stages of production using path analysis. Body weights of 50 crossbred (Landrace x Large White) female pigs were measured along with four biometric traits (body length, heart girth, flank-to-flank, height-at-withers) on each animal during growing and finishing stages of production. A computed mean of 1150 measurements per biometric trait taken during the entire study was subjected to path coefficient analysis using the correlation matrix approach. High positive and significant correlations (>84.3%) were observed between different biometric measurements. However, path analysis of these traits on body weight of pigs revealed that heart girth is the major contributor to the body weight of the pig with a higher amount of direct effect of 0.6539 (R2 = 95.25). The direct effects of body length and flank-to-flank measurements on body weight of the pigs were less. These traits mostly affect body weight indirectly via heart girth. Finding of the present investigation demonstrated that heart girth was the most important contributor to body weight of grower and finisher pigs and thus was recommended for quick estimation of body weight of breeding gilts under field or market conditions than other biometric traits. In addition, it could also be used for the construction of selection index for breeding gilts at both phases of growth.


2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Yakubu ◽  
MM Muhammed ◽  
MM Ari ◽  
IS Musa-Azara ◽  
JN Omeje

The study aimed at describing objectively the interdependence between body weight (BWT) and morphometric traits in Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks using multivariate path analysis technique. Measurements were taken on one hundred and ninety seven (197) randomly selected 10-week old Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks, respectively in Plateau State, Nigeria. The birds were reared on deep litter in a semi-intensive system where they were kept in a fenced area provided with water ponds and locked up in the poultry house during the night. The body parts measured were, body length (BDL); thigh length (THL); thigh circumference (THC); breast circumference (BTC); bill length (BLL); neck length (NKL); neck circumference (NKC); shank length (SHL); shank width (SHW); total leg length (TLL) and wing length (WL). General linear model was used to study genotype and sex effects. Pekin ducks had a superior advantage (p<0.05) over their Khaki Campbell counterparts in all the body parameters estimated. Sexual dimorphism (p<0.05) was in favour of male ducks.  Pairwise phenotypic correlations between BWT and morphometric traits were positive and significant (p<0.01), ranging from 0.38-0.95 and 0.35-0.92 for Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks, respectively. Path analysis revealed that BDL was the variable of utmost importance directly influencing BWT in male Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks (path coefficient=0.535 and 0.508, respectively; p<0.01) while BTC and SHL were the most responsible parameters affecting BWT in female Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks [path coefficient=0.594 (P<0.01) and 1.197 (p<0.05), respectively]. The optimum regression models for the prediction of BWT in Khaki Campbell ducks included BDL, SHL, BTC and NKC (male)  and BDL, WNL and BTC (female); while in their Pekin counterparts, BDL, BLL and BTC (male) and BDL and SHL (female) were incorporated.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v44i1.23112            Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 44 (1): 1-9


2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 799
Author(s):  
Fatih Uckardes ◽  
Dogan Narinc ◽  
Hande Kucukonder

Path analysis was used to investigate direct, indirect and total effects of some morphological measurements on slaughter and carcass traits in Japanese quails. Bodyweight, shank length, shank diameter, breast circumference and body length measurements were taken from 219 Japanese quails. Bivariate correlations between carcass weight and morphological traits in quails ranged from 0.405 to 0.864. The direct effect of bodyweight on carcass weight was the strongest in the study and (path coefficient of 0.85) positively influenced carcass weight (P < 0.01). The direct effect of other linear-type traits on carcass weight was non-significant as revealed by t-test (P > 0.05). These traits were indirectly realised mostly by shank diameter. Thus, they were dropped from the final regression equations to obtain much more simplified prediction models. The optimum multiple regression equation for Japanese quails included bodyweight, with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.7463. The correlation between characters was determined in more detail by using path analysis in this study. Thus, it was shown that path analysis could be used for selecting a variable. The forecast indices obtained in this study could aid in weight estimation, selection and breeding programs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
B. I. Umoh ◽  
U. M. Okon ◽  
J. S. Ekpo

Body weight of animals in the rural areas has not been accurately ascertained due to lack of accurate measurement scales, hence this experiment. The study was conducted to determine the correlation between milk intake and body weight with linear body measurements in white Fulani calves raised in semi-intensive system of management. A total of seven (7) white Fulani calves managed semi-intensively was used for the study. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. The overall mean±SEM value for milk intake, body weight, neck circumference, neck length, body length, body circumference, girth circumference, height at wither and tail length were 1.20±0.40g, 5.18±1.02kg, 21.54±0.66cm, 13.23±0.21cm, 28.36±0.31cm, 36.41±0.43cm, 35.84±0.37cm, 35.87±0.43cm and 23.43±0.39cm respectively. There was significant (P<0.05) effect of lactation stage on all body measurements taken except for neck circumference and tail length. Correlation between all body pairs of measurements were high, positive and highly significant (P<0.05). The highest correlation was recorded for body length, body circumference, girth circumference and height at wither. Linear function provided the best fit for milk intake weight and linear body measurements indicating that body measurements can be used for selection and the estimation of body weight in the fields where accurate scales are not usually available. It is recommended that any of the body measurement parameters could be used in the estimation of the body weight. Also, an improvement of non-genetic factor such as nutrition and general husbandry of the animal as much as possible will bring about improvement in the body parameters as well as maintaining the animal's physiological balance.


Author(s):  
Rifu Xu ◽  
Thobela Louis Tyasi ◽  
Ning Qin ◽  
Yang Jing ◽  
Fang Mu ◽  
...  

The objectives of this study were to establish the direct and indirect effects of the relationship between body weight and body measurements on both sexes of the indigenous Chinese Dagu chicken and to develop a functional model for predicting body weight using different body measurements. The path analysis in female chickens revealed that shank length has the highest direct effect (path coefficient=0.233) on body weight and pelvis width showed higher indirect effect on body weight via shank length. In male chickens, the path analysis showed that body slope length has the highest direct effect (path coefficient=0.120) on the body weight of indigenous Chinese Dagu chickens, while fossil bone length has the highest indirect effect on body weight via body slope length. The equations could serve as a useful practical tool for livestock farmers, researchers and rural development workers for body weight estimation in the field and for selection purposes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
PENI WAHYU PRIHANDINI ◽  
DYAH MAHARANI ◽  
Sumadi Sumadi

Abstract. Prihandini PW, Maharani D, Sumadi. 2020. Body weight, body measurements, and slaughter characteristics of Madura cattle raised in Pamekasan District, East Java Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3415-3421.  This study was designed to analyze the body weight, body measurements and slaughter characteristics of Madura cattle raised in Pamekasan district, East Java province, Indonesia. A total of 2,373 records on live body weight and body measurements (body length, height at withers and chest girth), and 69 records on slaughter traits (slaughter, carcass, and meat weight, as well as carcass and meat percentage) from both sexes were used. Sampled animals were divided into three groups based on age (calf: 0- to10-month-old; young: 11- to 24-month-old; adult: >24-month-old). The data were analyzed using independent sample t-test to assess significant differences between sex groups and subjected to multiple linear regression analyses to obtain prediction equations of body weight from body measurements, carcass weight from slaughter weight, and meat weight from slaughter- and carcass-weight. Results showed that body weight, height at withers, and chest girth between male and female cattle in all age groups were significantly different (P<0.05). Male cattle showed higher slaughter weight, carcass weight and carcass percentage mean values than female cattle. Body measurements showed high correlation with body weight (r ≥0.80). Height at withers, body length, and chest girth represented good body measurements to predict body weight (R2 = from 0.65 to 0.83). Moreover, as observed, high correlations between slaughter weight and carcass- (r = 0.94; R2 = 0.89) and meat-weight (r = 0.99; R2 = 0.98) would imply that meat weight could be predicted accurately from slaughter- and carcass-weight.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-19
Author(s):  
P. A. John ◽  
A. O. Iyiola-Tunji

Body linear measurements of different age categories of donkeys were used to predict the body weight of donkeys using stepwise regression procedure. This work was conducted to estimates the live body weight of donkeys from biometric traits. A total of 700 donkeys were measured into three age groups (weaners 6 months- 1 year, young above 1- 3 years and adults 3 years and above). Morphometric measures taken were body weight, head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail length using random sampling technique. Significant variations were observed in morphometric (P<0.05, P<0.01) traits. The results of the study showed that significantly (P<0.01) predicted body weight of these donkeys with good efficiencies were neck circumference (NC), tail length (TL) and body length (BL) were the best predictors of body weight with R2= 100% in weaners, head width (HWD), neck circumference (NL), neck circumference (NC) and height at withers (HW) with R2= 100% in young and HW, HG with R2 = 100% in adult category. The traits were significantly (p<0.05, 0.01) and positively correlated amongst themselves (r=0.09-0.87).It is therefore concluded that the inclusion of two variables improved the prediction marginally, but the addition of further variables gave little further improvement. The association may be useful as selection criterion, since positive correlations of traits suggest that the traits are under the same gene action (pleiotropy/linkage). It is therefore recommended that tail length, neck circumference, body length, height at withers and heart girth should be used as the best predictors of body weight across the sex and age categories of donkeys. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
M. Kabir ◽  
A. Shehu-Kubra

Records from 120 day-old Arbor Acre (n = 60) and White Rose (n = 60) broiler strains of mixed sexes were used. The experiment was carried out at the Poultry Unit, Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna state. Traits considered from day old to 8 weeks included body weight (BW), body length (BL) as well as chest girt (CG). The chickens were assigned to two treatments with three replications each having twenty chickens per replicate and were fed the same type of feed. The weights were taken on weekly basis. The feed consumed was also measured on daily basis. The body parameter such as body length and chest girth was also taken on weekly basis. The chick's body volume (BV) was estimated by cylinder volume using a formula derived from the work of Paputungan. Results obtained showed that age significantly (P<0.05) affected BW at all ages where the White Rose strain consistently weigh heavier than Arbor Acre. Similarly the BV of Arbor Acre is less than that of White Rose strain only at week 2. No significant difference (P>0.05) was obtained for the other parameters investigated across age. Coefficient of correlation among parameters obtained in this study were low and insignificant (P>0.05). However, all the values recorded were positive indicating that selection for any trait will lead to correlated response in the others. The multiple regression models for predicting live weight from chest girth, body length and body volume in the two strains revealed that coefficient of determination (R2 ) for BV was higher (0.96 to 0.98) compared with those of chest girth (0.56 to 0.73) and body length (0.81 to 0.88). It was concluded therefore that body volume was more efficient and better predictor of live body weight than BL and/or CG.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Komariah (Komariah) ◽  
Dwi Joko Setyono ◽  
Aslimah (Aslimah)

<p>The objective of the present study was to study the qualitative characteristics (wool color, horned) and the quantitative characteristics (body weight, chest circumference, body length, age) of sheep and goats for qurban in the Mitra Tani Farm; and the consumers preferences of choosing the sheep and goat required for ‘qurban’ event. In total eighty three Jawarandu goats; 16 Garut; 37 Thin-Tailed and 35 Fat-Tailed rams were observed to measure their body weight, chest circumference, body length, age, the present of horn and hair color. Qualitative data was obtained by interviewing the owner and consumers of MT Farm (30 trader and 30 consumers). The data was statistically analysis using, chi-square test, correlation test and T test. The results showed that the consumers from Jakarta, Depok and Tangerang significantly (P&lt;0.05) prefer goats than rams, while the consumers from Bogor, Yogyakarta and Bandung prefer rams than goats. The traders more consider the weight of the body (posture) and the price, while consumers more consider the finance budget. The average body weight of Jawarandu was 25.84±4.54 kg; Garut, Fat-Tailed and Thin-Tailed rams were 29.32±3.61, 28.45±5.54 and 28.44±4.65 kg respectively. The chest girth had higher correlation with body weight than body length. The percentage of goats and rams age were 60.56% (I0), 33.89% (I1) and 5.56% (I2). The dominant color of Jawarandu goat were brown (54.2%), black (26.51%) and white (19.28%). The color of Fat-Tailed rams wool more uniform than Thin-Tailed rams or Garut.</p><p><br />(Key words: Characteristics of Sheep and Goat, Mitra Tani Farm, Qurban)</p>


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