scholarly journals Explorative analysis of relationships among breed, growth traits, prices and sex of sheep using structural equation modeling

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-121
Author(s):  
A. O. Iyiola-Tunji ◽  
D. Baba ◽  
W. Buba

The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Eid al-Adha) are known. However, such factors that dictate prices during off-season (non-festivity periods) are not fully known. Structural equation modeling as a multivariate analytical tool is capable of bringing out the latent (hidden) factors responsible for price determination for sheep. Prices, body weight and linear body measurements of 621 sheep of both sexes consisting of Balami, Sudanese, Uda and Yankasa breeds were used to examine relationships among the variables. The sheep were obtained from Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Kara, Bachirawa, Yankaba, Mariri and Kabara livestock markets in Municipal, Taruauni, Gmale, Nassarawa, Fagge and Dala Local Government Areas of Kano State. Body weights, neck length, back length, leg length, height at wither, loin girth and chest girth were parameters monitored. The data obtained were subjected to generalized least squares (GLS) estimator of a triangular seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model. Maximum likelihood estimation method of structural equation modelling was used to generate parameter estimates through recursive system with correlated errors (SEM Command Language). Price of sheep is an observed variable while type and body parameters were generated as latent variables. Type as a latent variable had direct relationships with breed, sex and body weight class. Body parameter on the other hand had direct relationships with body weight and all the linear body measurements. The z-values were 2.9 for breed, 2.8 for sex and 2.5 for body weight class, others are 4.6 for birth weight, 1.9 for neck length, 4.1 for back length, 6.8 for loin, 7.4 for chest girth, 8.3 for height at wither and 6.1 for leg length. Simultaneous prediction equations for estimating prices of sheep had been generated for some selected livestock markets in Kano State.

Author(s):  
I. M. Chana ◽  
M. Kabir ◽  
O. Orunmuyi ◽  
A. A. Musa

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of breed and sex on body weight and linear body measurements of 100 Turkeys which included 50 Norfolk and 50 Mammoth breeds each. Study Design and Duration: The experiment lasted for 20 weeks during which the performance parameters were monitored in 100 Turkeys using completely randomized design. Methodology: The body weight and linear measurements were taken at an interval of two weeks (i.e. day 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 weeks). Parameters monitored were shank length (cm), back length (cm), chest girth (cm), neck length (cm), thigh length, and wing length and body weight. Results: Result obtained showed that there where significant differences (P<0.05) in body weight across the breed with Norfolk having 2.70±0.04 and Mammoth 2.55±0.04. The linear measurements studied (body length, neck length, back length, shank length, thigh length, wing length, and chest girth) showed that the Norfolk had superiority over the Mammoth breed. Conclusion: Result showed remarkable and better growth performance of male turkeys than their female counterparts for all traits and ages. Also, higher values in linear body parameters noted in males.


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


Author(s):  
R. U. Wagh ◽  
B. M. Thombre ◽  
A. T. Shinde

The body measurement and body weight of Gaolao calves at various stages of growth were studied for both male and female at different location in the breeding tract. The idea is to obtain the real picture of the breed in the breeding tract. The body measurements play an important role in judging calves and often help in predicting probable value of the calves. Body length and height at wither are the measures of bone growth while chest girth is measures of development of muscles, bone and fat and it has close relationship with the live body weight.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oumer Sheriff ◽  
Kefyalew Alemayehu ◽  
Aynalem Haile

Abstract Background An exploratory field research was conducted in northwestern Ethiopia, to characterize the morphological features of Arab and Oromo goat populations as an input to design community-based breeding programs. Ten qualitative and nine quantitative traits were considered from 747 randomly selected goats. All data collected during the study period were analyzed using R statistical software. Results Plain white coat color was predominantly observed in Arab goats (33.72%) while plain brown (deep and light) coat color was the most frequent in Oromo goats (27.81%). The morphometric measurements indicated that Oromo goats have significantly higher body weight and linear body measurements than Arab goats. Positive, strong and highly significant correlations were obtained between body weight and most of the body measurements in both goat populations. The highest correlation coefficients of chest girth with body weight for Arab (r  =  0.95) and Oromo (r  =  0.92) goat populations demonstrated a strong association between these variables. Live body weight could be predicted with regression equations of y  =  − 33.65  +  0.89  ×  for Arab goats (R2  =  90) and y  =  − 37.55  +  0.94  ×  for Oromo goats (R2  =  85), where y and x are body weight and chest girth, respectively, in these goat types. Conclusions The morphological variations obtained in this study could be complemented by performance data and molecular characterization using DNA markers to guide the overall goat conservation and formulation of appropriate breeding and selection strategies.


2020 ◽  
pp. 135910532094780
Author(s):  
Katrin Kukk ◽  
Kirsti Akkermann

We aimed to assess the interplay between dietary restraint and emotion regulation (ER) difficulties as well as other well-known risk factors of binge eating in a community sample of women. Altogether 96 women (mean age 21.5 years; mean BMI 21.7) participated in the study using ecological momentary assessment. Structural equation modeling indicated that restraint and ER pathways are related yet operate independently in predicting binge eating in a unified model. ER difficulties moderated the effect of negative affect and fluctuations in negative affect in predicting binge eating while Neuroticism and preoccupation with body weight predicted binge eating indirectly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Huang ◽  
Colette M St.Mary ◽  
Rebecca T Kimball

Abstract Behavioral traits that vary consistently among individuals across different contexts are often termed as ‘personality traits,’ while the correlated suite formed by those traits is called a ‘behavioral syndrome’. Both personality trait and behavioral syndrome are potentially responsive to animal ‘states’, defined as strategically relevant individual features affecting the cost-and-benefit trade-offs of behavioral actions. Both extrinsic ‘states’ (e.g. urban versus rural habitats), and intrinsic ‘states’ (e.g. sex), may shape among-individual variation in personality traits, as well as behavioral syndromes. Here, we used northern cardinals sampled from four locations to examine the effect of habitat type (urban versus rural, an extrinsic state), stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) parameters, body weight and sex (intrinsic states) on personality traits and behavioral syndrome variation. We used behavioral trials to measure five personality traits. Using principal component analysis to quantify personality traits first, followed by general linear mixed models, we found that habitat type, CORT at capture and 2-day CORT response affected some personality traits, while body weight and sex did not. Cardinals inhabiting more urbanized areas had lower CORT metabolite levels at capture and were more neophilic, less neophobic and also less aggressive than their rural conspecifics. Using structural equation modeling to construct behavioral syndromes formed by our selected personality traits, we found that urban and rural cardinals varied in the models representing syndrome structure. When utilizing the shared syndrome structural model to examine the effects of states, habitat type and 2-day CORT response appear to affect syndrome variation in a coordinated, not hierarchical, manner.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karu. Pasupathi ◽  
M. Sakthivel ◽  
D. Balasubramanyam ◽  
M. Babu ◽  
P. Kumarasamy

Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
S. P. Dahiya ◽  
Z. S. Dahiya ◽  
C. S. Patil

Measurements of body conformation in sheep are of value in judging the quantitative characteristics of meat and also helpful in developing suitable selection criterion. Data on 349 Harnali sheep for body length (BL), body height (BH), heart girth (HG), paunch girth (PG), tail length (TL), head circumference (HC), ear length (EL), ear width (EW), face length (FL) and adult body weight (ABW) were analysed to study the relationship between linear body measurements and body weight. The mixed linear model with dam’s weight at lambing as covariate was used to study the effect of non-genetic factors on body measurements and body weight. High estimates of heritability were obtained for BL, BH, HG, TL, HC, EL, EW, FL and ABW while moderate estimate was obtained for PG. The phenotypic correlations of BL, BH, HG, PG, HC and FL with ABW were positive and significant (0.32±0.04 to 0.59±0.08). The genetic correlations of HG, PG, HC and FL with ABW were 0.51±0.13, 0.42±0.19, 0.44±0.13 and 0.43±0.15, respectively. Various combinations of linear type traits to predict ABW were found to have coefficient of determination as high as 0.92. It is concluded that heart girth is the most important trait for estimation of live weight in sheep and the prediction equation is Body weight = -63.72 + 1.23 HG with R2 = 0.87.


Author(s):  
D. Chakraborty ◽  
K. Mehdi Khan ◽  
N. Kumar ◽  
Isfaq Faried ◽  
Rajan Sharma ◽  
...  

Majority of the Kargil sheep populations are indigenous. Very scanty information is available for morphological characterization of Purky sheep population. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with the objectives to study the morpho-metric characteristics and body measurements for phenotypic characterization of the local sheep. A stratified random sample survey was conducted on various parameters (horn size, tail size, chest girth, punch girth, body length, height at wither and body weight) in seven different age groups. Data were collected randomly from 510 sheep of either sex. The local sheep population of Kargil which was selected for the present investigation is named as ‘Purky’ by the name of the community that reared this breed. In Purky sheep white body colour was predominant in both the sexes. The sheep breed was of low to medium body weight. The chest girth, punch girth, height at withers of Purky sheep showed it to be medium sized. Sex had significant effect (P is less than 0.05) on height at wither only. For males the least squares means were higher for all the traits of all age groups baring few exceptions. The phenotypic correlations of age groups with different morpho-metric traits were very high. The phenotypic correlations of body weight with other body measurements like tail size, chest girth, paunch girth, body length and height at wither were very high. Further studies should be carried out to fully exploit their genetic potential and to register the breed and in-situ conservation of this population.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document