COMPARISON OF SCALE WEIGHTS TO TAPE ESTIMATES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH CONDITION SCORES IN BUNAJI CATTLE

Abstract

Animal weighing facilities are not available in many African farming conditions. Indirect methods of estimating animals weights have been compared with scale weights and, in some cases. condition scores. The use of calibrated weigh bands is not widely practised probably because calibrations were based on temperate breeds. A study was carried out to determine the relationship between scale, tape measurement and weighband estimates of Bunaji cattle. These were then related to the animals' condition scores. Both the tape measurement and management and research purposes. When weigh band weights significantly (P<0.001) correlated (r = 0.95 and 0.94 respectively) with the scale weight. Condition score significantly is (P<0.001) correlated with the tape meaşurement, scale and weighband weights (r = 0.62, 0.67 and 0.64 respectively). The correction factors of the regression coefficients of determining weight from condition score for the three methods varied by only 3.92. It is suggested breed. that in the absence of weighing facilities, reliable estimates can be obtained by either tape measurement or weighband methods. Condition score can also reliably be used to estimate the weight using the regression coefficients obtained. Weighbands will be easier to use in field conditions. The need to calculate the weight from a formula could introduce errors when using the tape measurement method.