The estimation of live weight from body measurements in different meat-type lambs

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the live weight (LW) and some body measurements to estimate the LW of lambs in five different meat-type sheep breeds reared in the same flock under intensive conditions. A total of 202 head of lambs, including both genders of Kivircik (K), Bandirma (B), Karacabey Merino (KM), Hampshire Down x Merino crossbreed (HM), and Ramlic (R), were conducted in this study. Birth weights ranged between 3.94-5.07 kg in those breeds and were affected significantly by breed and birth types (P<0.001). The effect of sex was clearly seen with the weaning period; males lambs were 2.61 kg heavier than female lambs (P<0.001). The importance of breed differences on chest circumference (CC) increased as the lambs grew older. On the other hand, sex had a significant effect on all body measurements at the pre- and post-weaning period (P<0.01 and P<0.001); however, did not on body length (BL) at the pre-weaning period (P>0.05). In contrast, the importance of birth type on BL and CC decreased as the lambs grew older (P>0.05). The results of regressing LW and body measurements show that LW was very highly (P<0.001) correlated with body measurements (r=0.682-0.892). The highest correlations were observed between LW and CC (r=0.802-0.892) in B, KM, and R lambs. These results suggest that using body measurements as a correction factor has a great benefit in those breeds, such as withers height and CC are used to estimate LW in KM and R lambs, effectively.