scholarly journals Evaluation of early growth performance of backcross progenies from crossbred gilts mated with their native parents

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-177
Author(s):  
P. E. Nwaku ◽  
M. O. Otuma

The pre weaning growth performance of piglets from four different cross bred dams mated back to their native parents was studied in the Breeding and Research Farm of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. Parameters like body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency as well as linear body measurements of body length, heart girth and height  at withers were taken and observed for growth between birth and weaning age of eight weeks. Results Results indicated significant differences (P<0.05) between the main backcross N x (N x LR) and the three other genotypes of N x (N x LW), N x (LR x N) and N x (LW x N) in all parameters. The mean birth weight of the progenies ranged from 1.00±0.60 to 1.60±5kg while the weaning weights were 10.5±0.4 to 16.0±1.0kg respectively. Results further revealed that body weight at weaning correlated responsively with all parameters and these include body length (r=0.858), heart girth (r= 0.446) and height at the withers (r= 0.946). Similarly, body length has a positive correlation with heart girth (r= 0.477) and height at the withers (r= 0.827) whereas hear girth correlated positively with the height at the withers (r= 0.494). Similar trend were obtained in the regression of each of the body measurements on the other in which bodyweight changes depended more on that of body length (0.86) than on heart girth (0.45). Judging from the observed variations existing among the piglets resulting from differnt crossbreed dams in their pre-weaning growth performance, maternal rather than paternal influences appeared to be more important in the traits studied.   

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
S. I. OMEJE ◽  
S. O. ALAKU ◽  
B. I. ODO ◽  
K. I. EMEHELU

The growth performance of seve calves from different Mutura dams served by same bull was studied in a mini cattle ranch. Body measurements were taken and observed for growth over a period of 12 months. The result indicates an apparaent difference among the calves in all parameters measured including body weight, body length, height at withers and heratgirth. Growth rate also showed increased differences among the experimental calves. The birth weights of the seven calves ranged from 9.8 to 13.0kg, with a mean value of 11.42+0.44 while the yearling weights were between 107.80 and 129.48kg with an overall mean of 120.57+2.44. The coefficients of variation for body weight at birth and at 12 monthys were 10.16 and 5.36% respectively. The results further revealed that body weight at yearling age correlated positively with all parameters and these include body length (r=0.81889, r2 = 67.09), height at withers (r=0.8837, r2=78.09). Similarly, body length had a positive correlation with height at withers (r=0.9667, r2=93.45) and heartgirth (r=0.8782, r2=77.13). White height at withers correlated positively with heartgirth (r=0.9291, r2=86.42). Similar trends were obtained in the regression of each of the body measurements on the other in which body weight changes depended more on those of body length (0.56) than on heartgirth (0.34). Judging from the observed variations existing among the individual calves resulting from the different cows at birth and at 12 months of age, maternal rather than paternal influences appeared to be more important in the traits studied.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 264-271
Author(s):  
A. J. Henry ◽  
S. N. Ibe ◽  
B. O. Asuquo

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between linear body measurements (LBMs) and body weights of grasscutters at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age. Simple linear correlation procedure was used to establish the strength of linear relationships and associations between the different linear body measurements with body weight. These parameters were also subjected to step-wise regression analysis. The goodness of fit (R2) was tested to determine the contribution of each independent variable measured to the prediction of the dependent variable, the body weight of grasscutters at different ages of 2, 4,6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 weeks. One hundred and thirty-nine (139) juvenile grasscutters obtained from 24 parents comprising of 18 does and 6 bucks were used for the study. Experimental animals were raised under a mixed feeding regime throughout the experimental period of 20 weeks. The linear body measurements assessed are head length (HL), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), ear length (EL) and tail length (TL). Correlation coefficients (r) between body measurements and weights were generally positive and significant (p < 0.01) at 2 weeks, demonstrating strong relationships between variables. At 4 weeks, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.013 to 0.829 whereas at 6 weeks values ranged from -0.230 to 0.859. Coefficient of determination (R2) varied from 0.926 to 0.997, 0.965 to 0.989 and 0.930 to 0.991 at 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively The positive correlation coefficients observed for body length and heart girth shows that these parameters can be improved upon for grasscutters raised under intensive management. Results from this study further revealed that body weight of grasscutters can be estimated under field condition using the ear,head, body lengths and heart girth in the absence of a weighing balance.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
shewangizaw woltamo wolde ◽  
Tadele Mirkena ◽  
Aberra Melesse ◽  
Tadelle Dessie ◽  
Solomon Abegaz

Abstract The Normal Feathered local chicken (LL), Sasso-RIR (SRSR) and their F1-cross (LSR) chickens were hatched to evaluated for egg hatchability, growth performance, feed efficiency and survival rate. After 14-days of brooding, 150 chicks of each genotype were randomly selected and further replicated in to five pens in a deep litter grower house consisting of 30 chicks each in a completely randomized design, and evaluated for a period of 16-weeks. Hatchability of fertile eggs was highest for LL (80.0 %), intermediate for LSR (68.6%) and lowest for SRSR (55.9%) chickens. The body weight (BW) of chicks at 2-weeks of age was 80.0, 76.3 and 61.5 g/bird for SRSR, LSR, and LL, respectively, the latter being the lowest (p<0.05). The respective BW at 8-weeks of age was 732, 587 and 451 g while at 18-weeks it was 1877, 1379 and 1070 g/bird and different from each other (p<0.05). During 3- to 8-weeks and 9- to 18-weeks growth periods, the LL chickens were inferior (p< 0.05) in feed intake (29.7 and 66.9 g/d/bird) whereas the SRSR chickens were superior (p< 0.05) in body weight gain (15.5 and 16.3 g/d/bird) and feed conversion ratio (2.67 and 5.35 g feed/ g gain), respectively. The mortality rate of chicken was not affected by genotypes. It can be concluded that the exotic blood of Sasso-RIR chicken had played a significant role in upgrading the growth rate and market weight of the local Normal Feathered chicken without adverse effect on hatchability, feed efficiency, and survival rate.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. B. SHRESTHA ◽  
D. P. HEANEY ◽  
P. S. FISER ◽  
G. A. LANGFORD

Heart girth (HG), body length (BL), leg length (LL), metacarpal circumference (MC), withers height (WH) and hook width (HW) of 233 growing rams of three synthetic strains, Suffolk and Finnsheep breeds were measured at 6, 8 and 10 mo of age. Thereafter, subsequent measurements were taken at 11–13 mo, 18–21 mo and 23–25 mo of age. Breed, birth period (hysterectomy derived birth date), age of ram and body weight (BW) had important effects (P < 0.05) on linear body measurements, whereas age of dam did not (P > 0.05). Significant effects of litter size on HG and BL were observed at 6 and 8 mo of age, respectively. All linear body measurements increased from 6 to 21 mo of age, whereas BL, WH and HW continued to increase to 25 mo. Rams of Strain 1, developed as a synthetic sire strain, with a large proportion of Suffolk background were generally similar to the Suffolk rams in all body measurements except for HG which was significantly larger than in Suffolk rams. The Finnsheep rams had smaller HG, BL, MC and HW than the synthetic strains and Suffolk rams, whereas LL and WH of the Finnsheep and Suffolk rams were similar. Rams of Strains 2 and 3, developed as synthetic dam strains with 50 percent Finnsheep background, were similar in body measurements. The synthetic dam strains did not differ from Strain 1 and/or Suffolk with respect to HG, BL, WH and HW. However, Suffolk rams had larger MC and shorter LL compared to those of the Strain 2 and 3 rams. Birth period had a significant effect on HG, BL, LL and MC, but no consistent trend with age of ram was apparent. Linear body measurements were positively correlated with each other and with body weight; however, the relationship varied as rams progressed in age. The importance of breed, birth date, age of ram and body weight on body measurements and the requirements for appropriate adjustments is emphasized. Key words: Sheep, body measurements, breed, birth date, age of ram


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Kokoszyński ◽  
Rafał Wasilewski ◽  
Mohamed Saleh ◽  
Dariusz Piwczyński ◽  
Henrieta Arpášová ◽  
...  

Native breeds of ducks have been the subject of many studies in the past, yet the relevant knowledge is still incomplete and needs to be further expanded. The objective of this study was to provide information about differences in growth performance, dressing percentage, carcass composition and digestive morphometry among three lines of Pekin ducks from conservation flocks raised in Poland. The study used 180 sexed Pekin ducks—30 males and 30 females of line P33 (ducks of Polish origin), 30 males and 30 females of line P8 (ducks of Danish origin), and 30 males and 30 females of line P9 (ducks of French origin). Throughout the study (49 d), ducks were confined indoors in six pens. Birds were fed complete commercial diets ad libitum and had unrestricted access to water. The compared lines of ducks differed significantly in body weight from 1 to 49 d of age except of ducks of both sexes at 14 d. At 49 d of age, significant differences were observed between the tested ducks in all the body measurements. Duck genotype had a significant effect on preslaughter body weight, carcass weight and breast muscle, neck and remainders contents, caeca length, liver weight and gizzard percentage. The results show that the tested ducks were significantly different and unique, mainly in terms of the body biometric characteristics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
P.O. Akporhuarho ◽  
O. Iriakpe

The study aimed at explaining objectively the relationship between morphologic traits of two breeds of pigs (Large-white and Duroc) using principal component analysis to determine the body size of grower pigs of two different breeds with a view of identifying components that best define body conformation. Body weight and five biometric variables namely head length, body length, body girth, ham length and ear length. The descriptive statistics showed that the mean body weight of Large-white was 13.14kg while the body measurements were 24.61cm, 71.35cm, 65.12cm, 43.13cm and 21.94cm for head length, body length, body girth, ham length and ear length respectively at 5 – 24 weeks of age. The mean body weight of Duroc was 12.87kg while the body measurements were 23.70cm, 57.93cm, 47.93cm, 22.90cm, 19.26cm for head length, body length, body girth, ham length and ear length respectively. The coefficient of correlation ranges from 0.08-0.424 and 0.01-0.402 for Large-white and Duroc respectively. The association between and were the highest for Duroc, body length r=0.402 and Large-white, body girth 0.424. Two components were identified for Large-white while those of Duroc were three components. The ratios of variance were 53.55 and 71.07% for Large-white and Duroc, respectively. The first factor in each case accounted for the biggest percentage of the total variation, and was designated the general size, the other factors (indices of body shape) offer forms of variation independent of the general size. The principal component based regression models which were chosen for selecting animals for optimal balance accounted for 58 and 76% of the variation in the body weight for Large-white and Duroc respectively. The study concluded that the use of principal component analysis techniques tends to explore the interdependence in the original five parameters measured: head length, body length, body girth, ham length and ear length of Large-white and Duroc     L'étude explique objectivement la relation entre les traits morphologiques de deux races de porcs (gros blanc et de Duroc) à l'aide d'une analyse de composants principaux afin de déterminer la taille du corps des porcs de producteurs de deux races différentes en vue d'identifier les composants qui définissent le mieux la conformation corporelle. Poids corporel et cinq variables biométriques, nommément longueur de la tête, longueur du corps, circonférence du corps, longueur du jambon et longueur de l'oreille. Les statistiques descriptives ont montré que le poids corporel moyen de gros blanc était de 13,14 kg tandis que les mesures du corps étaient de 24,61 cm, 71,35 cm, 65,12 cm, 43,13 cm et 21,94 cm pour la longueur de la tête, la longueur du corps, la circonférence du corps, la longueur du jambon et la longueur de l'oreille respectivement à 5 - 24 semaines. Le poids corporel moyen de Duroc était de 12,87 kg tandis que les mesures du corps étaient de 23,70 cm, 57,93 cm, 47,93 cm, 22,90 cm, 19,26 cm pour la longueur de la tête, la longueur du corps, la circonférence du corps, la longueur du jambon et la longueur de l'oreille respectivement. Le coefficient de corrélation varie de 0,08 à 0,424 et de 0,01 à 0,402 pour les gros blancs et Duroc respectivement. L'association entre et étaient les plus élevées pour Duroc, la longueur du corps R = 0,402 et de gros blancs, la circonférence du corps 0,424. Deux composants ont été identifiés pour les gros blancs tandis que ceux de Duroc étaient trois composants. Les ratios de variance étaient respectivement de 53,55 et 71,07% pour les gros blancs et Duroc. Le premier facteur de chaque cas représentait le plus gros pourcentage de la variation totale et a été désigné la taille générale, les autres facteurs (indices de la forme du corps) offrent des formes de variation indépendantes de la taille générale. Les principaux modèles de régression basés sur les composants choisis pour sélectionner des animaux pour un solde optimal représentaient 58 et 76% de la variation du poids corporel pour les grands blancs et Duroc respectivement. L'étude a conclu que l'utilisation de techniques d'analyse des composants principaux a tendance à explorer l'interdépendance dans les cinq paramètres d'origines mesurées: longueur de la tête, longueur du corps, circonférence corporelle, longueur du jambon et longueur de l'oreille de grosse blanc et de Duroc


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-25
Author(s):  
R. O Okeke ◽  
B. I Nwagu ◽  
A. O Iyiola-Tunji ◽  
P. A. John

Towards assessment of variations within and between sheep; biometric and morphological data of the four breeds of sheep found in Nigeria were collected using multi-stage samplin method. A total of 46 Balami, 30 Uda, 36 Yankasa and 37 WAD were sampled. Stepwise multiple regression procedure was used to find the best linear combination of metric variables that best predict the body weight. Principal component analysis of biometric and morphological traits was carried out. Simple discriminant analysis procedure was used to classify the breeds. Cluster analysis was done using the model building specificationinterface. Head length (HL), chest girth (CG), leg length (LL), and tail length were the only linear body measurements that were significant (P<0.01) in predicting body weight of sheep in the overall prediction equation. Body weight and all the linear body measurements had their highest loadings on principal component 1 (PC1). Tassel was the only variable that had its highest loading on PC2. Tail type and state (location) were the variables that bestdescribes the third component (PC3). Sex and hair type were variables that best described the forth component (PC4). Discriminant analysis showed that 70.59% of sheep sampled as Balami were classified as pure breed. Sheep sampled as WAD and Yankasa had 100% conformation while Balami and Uda had 70.59% and 60%, respectively in conformation to the classifying features of their breed based on discriminant analysis. The farthest genetic distance (5.48) was observed between Balami and WAD while the shortest genetic distance (1.26) was observed between Balami and Uda. Improvement of growth traits of sheep breedsin Nigeria is recommended through the use of either Balami or Uda as sire and either WAD or Yankasa as dam.


2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
Zygmunt Domagała ◽  
Paweł Dąbrowski ◽  
Michał Porwolik ◽  
Krystian Porwolik ◽  
Bohdan Gworys

Abstract There are a limited number of studies on secular changes in the neonatal period, and the majority of them concern research related to childhood and puberty The objective of our study was to carry out a comparative analysis of body weight and length at birth in neonates born in Wrocław in subsequent decades since 1950 to find out if these parameters are subject to secular trend, and what values they attained during the studied period of 50 years. The study was carried out in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and in 2000 to analyse changes in body length, body weight and Rohrer index over time. The sample studied consisted of 7510 neonates, 3882 males and 3628 females, born in Wroclaw. Secular changes were tested using one-way variance analysis. The values of F statistics were compared to the critical values of the F Snedecor distribution. Changes in the features of neonates in subsequent study years were analysed using the modified z-score. Data were normalised for standard deviation in decade increments. Results demonstrated very slight, though statistically insignificant increase in body weight at birth. Over the 50-year period the mean body weight of neonates was in the range of 3.3-3.4 kg, regardless of sex. Results demonstrated very slight, though statistically insignificant increase in body weight at birth. Over the 50-year period the mean body weight of neonates was in the range of 3.3-3.4 kg, regardless of sex. The acceleration in the body length of neonates caused a gradual decrease in the mean values of the Rohrer index. No secular trend in body weight was found in Wrocław neonates over the 50-year period between 1950 and 2000 With regard to body length at birth, four waves of deceleration and acceleration were found: period 1 (1950s): deceleration in the increase of the analysed body parameters of neonates; period 2 (1960s): acceleration in neonates’ growth; period 3 (1970s and 1980s): economic crisis and political transformations in Poland; this is reflected by the stable mean values of body dimensions in neonates. The secular trend clearly decelerated, and period 4 (1990s and 2000) - very intense acceleration in both body weight and length and the Rohrer index.


1996 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Päivi Mäntysaari

The relationship between heart girth, wither height, body length and body weight in 3- to 9.5-month-old pre-pubertal Finnish Ayrshire heifers gaining 600-650 g/d was analysed (experiment I). Regression analysis showed that heart girth was the trait most highly correlated to body weight (R2 = 0.969). Including body length or wither height as a second term in the regression, increased R2 values only slightly. When the relationship between heart girth and body weight was used to predict the body weight of heifers reared at two feeding levels (experiment II), the precision of prediction was affected by the plane of nutrition. Actual body weight for a given heart girth was slightly higher on the high than on the low feeding level. It is, nevertheless, concluded that the equations presented in the paper can be used to estimate accurately the body weight of pre-pubertal (95-140-cm heart girth) Ayrshire heifers gaining 550-700 g/d.


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