Body Girth Research Articles

Allometric relationships determined for skin area and fleece production of Angora goats

This study aimed to determine the relationships between skin surface area, animal size and mohair physical properties using estimates of skin area determined on animals prior to slaughter and to compare these with skin weight and skin area determined after slaughter. Angora kids born in late winter were shorn at 18 weeks of age. Prior to slaughter at 20 weeks of age, 15 kids of each sex were identified to cover the entire range of live weights. Body girth, body length circumference and body condition score were determined. Following slaughter, skins were weighed and skin area determined. Clean fleece weight and mean fibre diameter (MFD) were determined. Parsimonious general linear models were developed to determine the relationships between measured skin area, estimated skin area, live weight and skin weight, clean fleece weight and MFD both with and without log10 transformation. Live weights ranged from 8.3 to 23.1kg, skin weight from 796 to 2262g and measured skin area 0.23 to 0.59m2. The weight of the skin represented 9.6% of the average live weight of the goats. Predicting measured skin area using body dimensional measurements accounted for 83.7% of the variance in measured skin area. Measured skin area was a constant 0.057m2 greater than the estimated skin area. It was more accurate to use live weight to estimate measured skin area as the regression between estimated skin area and live weight accounted for 93.7% of the variance. Measured skin area and clean fleece weight were proportional to live weight 0.67, which is the general allometric relationship expected between the surface area of a shape and its volume. Both clean fleece weight and MFD were proportional to measured skin area but were better predicted by live weight. Predicting skin surface area using live weight 0.67 was more reliable than using body dimensional measurements.

Effect of varying levels of dietary protein on growth and relationship of egg weight with egg quality parameters in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

A total of 120, day-old turkey (Maleagris gallopavo) chicks were arranged into four groups. Four diets having varying levels of crude protein (CP) viz. 16% CP, 18% CP, 20% CP and 22% CP were prepared and were designated as control (T0), treatment 1 (T1), treatment 2 (T2) and treatment 3 (T3) diets, respectively. Group 1 birds were fed with T0 diets, group 2 with T1 diets, group 3 with T2 and group 4 birds were fed with T3 diets. Significantly higher weight gain 2950.86±1952.58g, body length 30.064±11cm, beak length 3.53cm, body girth 43.41±16.30cm, thigh length 18.18±6.47cm, sternum-length 11.98±4.70cm, wing-length 47.10±16.17cm, wingspan 101.36±34.32cm, shank-length and tarsus-length 13.78±4.47cm were recorded in M. gallopavo fed with T3 diets. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) for T0, T1, T2 and T3 diets were 2.296, 2.236, 2.099 and 1.934, respectively. Internal and external quality parameters of egg were also analyzed.

The changes in body build and strength in female after a 4-month combined judo and strength training program

In judo great significance is attached to the development of strength, which is crucial for performing offensive and defensive actions during fights. Another aspect of strength training is improvement of body build and general physical health of female athletes. The present study aims to estimate the changes of strength and body composition in non-elite female judoists from academic sports clubs after a combined judo and strength training program. The study examined changes in body build and muscle strength in 20 female judoists participating in judo training and additional adaptive strength training. The anthropometric, physical and motoric measurements were performed twice at four months interval, before and after a combined training program. After the completion of the training program, significant increases of about 10 kg in back muscle strength and of about 2 kg in hand grip strength were noted. No increases in muscle mass and body girths were observed; however, fat mass decreased for about 0.6 kg, which was additionally confirmed by skinfolds thickness measurements. Body mass and BMI remained unchanged. The analysis using Sheldon’s somatotypes revealed a tendency towards lower endomorphy among the studied judoists after four months training period. The results of the present study indicate that even experienced but non-elite academic female judoists could improve their back muscle strength, handgrip strength, and body composition by completing the proposed strength training program along with judo training.

Girth prediction of young female body using orthogonal silhouettes

Body girths are the primary dimensions needed for apparel patternmaking. Although 3D body scanning systems can provide direct girth measurements, their high price and complexity prevent widespread use in the apparel industry, especially in small-business operations. Regular 2D body images can be used to measure body widths, depths, and heights, but are not usable for direct girth measurements. In this study, we proposed a new approach to predict girths of young female body with a dedicated 2D body imaging system. In our 2D system, the frontal and side images of a subject were obtained to extract the orthogonal silhouettes, and the body widths and depths were measured at landmarks found from the silhouettes. We found that the measurements had more than 94% of the data in the error range of ±1 cm. Body girths were then predicted through the empirical equations built on the width and depth measurements. The prediction results were compared with those of the manual measurements, and examined in a perspective of apparel-manufacturing requirements. The girth prediction models established in this study were found to be effective, which could facilitate automatic girth measurements essential in apparel pattern alteration using 2D images.

Local Ecotypes of Roe Deer Populations (Capreolus capreolusL.) in Relation to Morphometric Features and Fur Colouration in the Centre of the Iberian Peninsula

ABSTRACT The extent of the area occupied by populations of roe deer and the diversity of environments in which it lives, determine the existence of different local forms or ecotypes. In order to characterize the populations of the Guadarrama Mountains in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula we examined the morphology and fur colouration of 154 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) based on their body size, age and sex. To determine the age of roe deer, we analyzed tooth cementum layers (incisor I1) to observe the growth lines. The remaining individual data (body size, sex and fur colouration) were obtained in the field, from animals hunted in the study area. In adult individuals, the average body weight in males was significantly higher than in females, being these weight ranges similar to those of the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. Body measurements were positively related to individuals age, but only significant differences in body girth were found between males and females. The analysis of fur colou...

Effects of Posture and Body Mass Index on Body Girth Assessment.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of posture on body girth assessment among hospitalized adults and older adults. We further explored the influence of body mass index (BMI) on this effect. A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospitalized adult patients. Arm, waist, hip, and calf girths were obtained for each patient in standing and supine positions. Body girths were obtained in the 2 body positions, and differences were compared according to BMI normal-weight and overweight categories. In total, 123 patients (27.6% aged ≥65 years) composed the study sample. Significant differences were found between measurements obtained in standing and supine positions, ranging from 0.6-1.1 cm. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were ≥0.97, and agreement ranged from 81.3%-87% (weighted κ ≥ 0.84). Similar results were found when differences were stratified by BMI categories. Although body girth assessment in standing and supine positions in hospitalized adults and older adults differs, these differences are small and are not dependent on BMI categories.

Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting morphometry of Sirohi goats.

Aim:The aim was to estimate genetic and non-genetic factors affecting morphometric traits of Sirohi goats under field condition.Materials and Methods:The detailed information of all animals on body measurements at birth, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age was collected from farmer’s flock under field condition born during 2007-2013 to analyze the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors. The least squares maximum likelihood program was used to estimate genetic and non-genetic parameters affecting morphometric traits.Results and Discussion:Effect of sire, cluster, year of birth, and sex was found to be highly significant (p<0.01) on all three morphometric traits, parity was highly significant (p<0.01) for body height (BH) and body girth (BG) at birth. The h2 estimates for morphometric traits ranged among 0.528±0.163 to 0.709±0.144 for BH, 0.408±0.159 to 0.605±0.192 for body length (BL), and 0.503±0.197 to 0.695±0.161 for BG.Conclusion:The effect of sire was highly significant (p<0.01) and also h² estimate of all morphometric traits were medium to high; therefore, it could be concluded on the basis of present findings that animals with higher body measurements at initial phases of growth will perform better with respect to even body weight traits at later stages of growth.

The Development of Physiological Growth Model of Beef Cattle in Semi Arid Environment to Meet Beef Demands for Tourism Sectors in East Nusa Tenggara

This research was conducted at Raknamo and Tuatuka Villages, Amabi Oefeto Sub-District, Kupang Regency from September until November 2013. The aim of the research was to (1) build a growth model of beef cattle under extensive management system, and (2) formulate an adaptive model to estimate body weight of local beef cattle that will provide more accurate guessing and also give more benefit to farmer. Results of the research found that (1) beef cattle farming is viewed as an economic activity that uses of resources with low opportunity costs such as family labours and marginal land, (2) The model built showed a positive and very strongh relationship between body weight and girth for both male and female with determinant coefficients of 0.94 and 0.96 respectivelly. It means that body weight variable can be explained well by girth variable. The same condition applied to the relationship between body weight and age for male and female. Where the relationship between the two variables was also positive and and strong enough with determinant coefficients of 0.78 and 0.86 respectively. Keywords : Model, beef cattle, girth, weight, age

Body weight and Morphometric traits characterization of Some Nigeria Homing Pigeons (Columbia livia).

Growth traits characterization of Nigeria homing pigeons was done using one hundred and thirty eight (138) birds from three locations (LCT) of different agro-ecological zones in Nigeria [Kebbi (KEB):North West; Ilorin (ILR): North Central and Osogbo (OSG): South West]. Parameters measured were body weight (BW) in gram and morphometric body parameters in cm viz. Head length (HL), beak length (BL), neck length (NL), body length (BL), body girth (BG), wing length (WL), body height (BH), thigh length (TL), drumstick length (DL) and keel length (KL). The results showed that, significant (p 0.05) to KEB (249.76g); the morphometric body parameters measured showed that HL, BG and WL values were significantly (p<0.05) higher in ILR; OSG had significantly (p<0.05) higher values for KL, while KEB pigeons had significantly (p<0.05) higher values for BL, NL, BH, TL, DL, and SL. Positive and significant correlations (p<0.01, 0.05) exists between locations, NL, SL and BH; BW was negatively correlated with locations with a significant (0.01) value of -0.58. PCA shows the clustering of growth traits from 18.94 to 25.14% under PC1 and 2, canonical discriminant functions gouped KEB and OSG with 56.60%; ILR and KEB with 43.60% while hierarchical clustering shows that KEB homing piegons are distinct from those of ILR and OSG. This results shows that locations have significant effects on growth traits in Nigeria homing pigeons.

Body Composition of Individuals with Mucopolysaccharidosis

Objective: To describe body composition of individuals with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried on with a convenience sample of MPS individuals of both sexes, five years of age or older. Exclusion criteria: physical deformity, neurological problems or other associated syndrome, precluding full measure’s accomplishment. Body composition was estimated by anthropometric method, according to international standards. Accomplished measurements of skinfold, body girth, bone diameters, total body mass and stature were made. Body mass index (BMI), body fat percent (BF%) and body mass were calculated. Body composition was also evaluated through Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Twenty-three individuals were identified; three were excluded (cognitive deficit) and five losses occurred. Fifteen individuals were evaluated (average age = 12.1 ± 7.7 years); three MPS I, five MPS II, one MPS IV and six MPS VI. For DXA, eight were included (average age = 14.1 ± 9.8 years), six common to the anthropometric assessment. BMI average: 19.8 ± 3.8 kg/m2; BF% average: 13.9 ± 5.1%. Short stature was present in 76.9%, obesity in 25.0%, macrocephaly in 26.6%; osteoporosis in 25.0%. Perimeters’ measures increased with the increasing of age. Bone lengths were not always shortened and there was no pattern related to age and MPS type. No significant differences were observed between anthropometry and DXA. The results varied in the same type of MPS and in the same age group. Conclusions: Physical parameters were in agreement with literature, as short stature and macrocephaly. Measurements’ variations between different MPS types and among individuals of the same type strengthen the heterogeneity of this disease.

Закономерности нарастания массы и охватных размеров тела детей и подростков г. Ставрополя

Закономерности нарастания массы и охватных размеров тела детей и подростков г. Ставрополя

Stock-recruitment resilience of North Pacific striped marlin based on reproductive ecology

The resilience of a stock-recruitment relationship is a key characteristic for modeling the population dynamics of living marine resources. Steepness determines the expected resiliency of a fish stock to harvest and is fundamentally important for the estimation of biological reference points such as maximum sustainable yield. Stock-recruitment steepness was the primary uncertainty for the determination of stock status and biological reference points in recent stock assessments of Western and Central North Pacific striped marlin (Kajikia audax). We therefore applied the method of Mangel et al. to estimate probable values of steepness for striped marlin using new information on the mean batch fecundity, spawning frequency, and spawning season duration under an assumption of Beverton–Holt stock-recruitment dynamics. Results indicated that the median steepness was 0.87 with an 80% probable range of (0.38, 0.98). It is very likely that North Pacific striped marlin is highly resilient to reductions in spawning potential. Variation in reproductive and life history parameters had an important influence on the distribution of steepness. Sensitivity analyses showed that steepness was most sensitive to body girth, mean egg weight, and most importantly, early life history stage survival. Sensitivity analyses also confirmed that the effects of changes in life history parameters on steepness were consistent with expected increases or decreases in reproductive output due to changes in body weight or fecundity. Our approach can be applied to pelagic fish species to directly assess the probable distribution of stock-recruitment resiliency when sufficient information on reproductive ecology and life history parameters is available.

Multivariate analysis of morphological traits of the Nigerian Muscovy ducks (Cairina Moschata)

This study was designed to investigate the possibility of classifying Nigerian Muscovy ducks into distinct ecotypes using stepwise discriminant analysis and Euclidean distance. Data were collected on ten morphological traits (body weight, body length, body girth, wing length, shank length, shank circumference, thigh length, total leg length, bill length and bill width) of one thousand and twenty (1020) adult Muscovy ducks comprising 203, 598 and 289 randomly sampled ducks from the rain forest, derived savanna and Guinea savanna ecotypes, respectively. The results of the descriptive statistics revealed highly (p<0.001) significant effects of ecotype on eight of the morphological traits except bill width and body length. Stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that bill length and body length had highest discriminating powers among the six distinguishing variables. Result of the cross validation of the correct assignment of ducks into distinct ecotypes was low; 53.7, 41.8 and 42.3 % of samples drawn from the rain forest, derived savanna and Guinea savanna ecotypes were correctly classified into their expected ecotypes. Euclidean distance between ecotypes was small; shortest distance was between rain forest and derived savanna ducks (2010) while the longest distance (3758) was between rain forest and Guinea savanna ducks. It is evident that due to the low classification success rate of discriminant analysis and short Euclidean genetic distance between ecotypes, they could not be classified into distinct ecotypes on the bases of morphostructural traits and appre-ciable heterosis is practically impossible from crossing Nigerian Muscovy ducks originating from different ecotypes.

A new metric for measuring condition in large predatory sharks.

A simple metric (span condition analysis; SCA) is presented for quantifying the condition of sharks based on four measurements of body girth relative to body length. Data on 104 live sharks from four species that vary in body form, behaviour and habitat use (Carcharhinus leucas, Carcharhinus limbatus, Ginglymostoma cirratum and Galeocerdo cuvier) are given. Condition shows similar levels of variability among individuals within each species. Carcharhinus leucas showed a positive relationship between condition and body size, whereas the other three species showed no relationship. There was little evidence for strong differences in condition between males and females, although more male sharks are needed for some species (e.g. G. cuvier) to verify this finding. SCA is potentially viable for other large marine or terrestrial animals that are captured live and then released.

&lt;b&gt;Effects of &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Leaf Stalk Plus Enzyme on Phenotypic Correlation between Zoometric Traits in Marshall Broiler Chickens Starter Phase&lt;/b&gt;

The relationship between rates of change of Body weight (BWR), Body length, (BLR), Body girth (BGR) Drumstick length (DLR), Shank length (SLR), Thigh length (TLR), Wing length (WLR) and Keel length (KLR) between 1 and 4 weeks age was examined in Marshall Broiler Birds placed on diet containing 0, 5, 10% and 10%+enzyme cocktail Moringa oleifera leaf stalk Meal MOLSM). Pearson’s bivariate correlation analysis indicated that body weight was significantly (p<0.05) and positively correlated with BLR and DLR (0.371 and 0.468), GLR was significantly correlated with BLR (0.460), while DLR was significantly correlated with GLR (0.448) in ALL. Diet significantly (p<0.05) affects rates of change of body weight (R 2 =.455) and body girth (R 2 =.291) but not other trait rates when all birds are examined irrespective of diet (ALL). At 0 and 10% MOLSM inclusion levels none of the body parts measured was significantly correlated with BWR. SLR was significantly correlated with KLR (0.768) at 5% MOLSM inclusion level, and BWR was significantly correlated with DLR (0.679) at 10% plus enzyme MOLS level. These results show that significantly correlated rates of change of body parts are reliable indicators of bodyweight development in the young Marshall Broiler strain regardless of inclusion levels of MOLSM, and inform the breeder and nutritionist of the likely proportionate gain in body-parts associated with gains in body-weight during feeding of graded levels of MOLSM as a non conventional feedstuff . Keywords: Moringa oleifera leaf stalk Meal, Phenotypic Correlation, Body weight, Broiler.

Characterization of some indigenous breeds of chicken in Kalahandi and Nuapada Districts of Odisha

The present study was aimed to identify and characterize 3 different domestic breeds of chicken in 2 tribal dominant districts of Odisha. According to the colour pattern and local name these 3 breeds are named as Kabri, Chitri and Khairi which are found different from avian chicken breeds described so far in their phenotypic characters as well as in the performance traits. All these avian species studied in this investigation are raised in smallholder production system. The phenotypic traits like comb type, plumage colour, plumage pattern and information on body length, body girth, shank length, breast angle, keel length measurements etc. were studied. Attempt was also made to evaluate its performance traits like growth rate, body weight, egg production in these 3 breeds.

Characterization of jamunapari goat in Mahoba district of Bundelkhand region.

The present study was carried out in 50 flocks consisting of 484 goat in 10 villages randomly selected from the breeding tract to characterize and evaluate jamunapari goat under field conditions during the period from 2011 to 2012. The data on various goat management practices viz. breeding, feeding, flock size, housing, disease, etc. were collected based on personal observation and information provided by the farmers. The body weight and different body measurements namely horn length, ear length, ear width, tail length, withers height, chest girth, body girth, hip height and body length were taken. The animals are found to be large in size with well built body having a broad and deep chest. Most of the animals are white with tan or black markings at neck and ears. The flock size varies from 5 to 35. The main breeding season is September and March. The horns are short and flat sized and about 10–15 cm long, horizontal twisting backward and present in both sex. The ears are long and pendulous and about 25-28 cm long, the tail is medium in length. The mean body weights in age groups of 0–3, 3–6, 6–12 and >12 months of males were 9.16, 15.32, 21.64 and 28.89 kg, respectively, and they were 7.98, 13.08, 19.59 and 26.23 kg, respectively, in females. The animals have excellent feed conversion efficiency under extreme conditions with a high dressing percentage. Goat farming forms a major source of livelihood for the farmers of the study area and the non availability of good quality fodder was the major constraint in the farming system. The results of the present study revealed that there is a scope for increasing the productivity of this breed.

Sexual size dimorphism and sex determination by morphometric measurements in locally adapted muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Nigeria

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a common phenomenon in most mammalian and poultry species. This study was undertaken to investigate SSD in nondescript locally adapted Muscovy ducks in Nigeria by applying descriptive analysis, sexual dimorphism index (SDI), sexual size dimorphism index (SSDI) and Principal Component analysis to morphological variables. Besides, attempt was made to identify best morphological predictors of sex using Stepwise Discriminant analysis. Data on ten morphological traits; body weight, body girth, body length, wing length, shank length, shank circumference, thigh length, total leg length, bill length and bill width were taken from 1,020 extensively managed adult Muscovy ducks comprising 287 males and 733 females. These birds were randomly sampled from Rain Forest, Derived Savanna and Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Sex significantly (P &lt; 0.001) affected all morphometric measurements in favour of males. Assessment of relative contribution of morphological traits to SSD through SDI and SSDI revealed that body weight followed by skeletal frame-related variables (body length and wing length) were the most dimorphic traits. Three Principal Components were generated for each sex; accounting for 62.70 % and 54.24 % of the total variance explained of male and female ducks, respectively. In tandem with the SDI and SSDI results, Stepwise Discriminant analysis indicated body weight as the best predictor of sex of adult Muscovy ducks followed by wing length and body length; correctly classifying 98.5 % of ducks and are reliable for sex determination in the field. The established SSD in this study could be employed for description, utilization, selection and planning of improvement programs of male and female Muscovy ducks.

Relationship between Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements in Japanese Quail (&lt;i&gt;Coturnix coturnix japonica&lt;/i&gt;)

A total of 108 two-weeks-old Japanese quail chicks were used to study the relationship between body weight and linear measurements and to predict body weight from linear measurements of body length (BL), body girth (BG), wing length (WL), shank length (SL), shank diameter (SD) and drum stick (DS).The results showed that the mean quail birds’ body weights were 35.23g and 143.78g, at 2nd and 8th weeks, respectively. Body weight gain was increased between 2 and 6 weeks of age and thereafter decreased with advancing age. Female birds were significantly (P&lt; 0.05) heavier than those of male counterpart at 6th and 8th weeks of age. Significantly positive correlations (P&lt;0.01) were obtained between body weight and body measurements at 2nd, 4th and 8th weeks. The best correlation was obtained between body weight and body girth at the 2nd week of age (0.70). The estimates of coefficient of determination and predictive equations show that body weight in Japanese quail is linearly related to body measurements especially with body girth and body length. The study shows that it is possible for breeders to use BG and BL as criteria for assessment and early selection of Japanese quail for body weight. Keywords: Japanese quail; Body weight; Linear measurements; Correlation © 2014 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsr.v6i1.16368 J. Sci. Res. 6 (1), 175-183 (2014)

Use of factor scores for predicting body weight from linear body measurements in three South African indigenous chicken breeds

Body weight and weight of body parts are of economic importance. It is difficult to directly predict body weight from highly correlated morphological traits through multiple regression. Factor analysis was carried out to examine the relationship between body weight and five linear body measurements (body length, body girth, wing length, shank thickness, and shank length) in South African Venda (VN), Naked neck (NN), and Potchefstroom koekoek (PK) indigenous chicken breeds, with a view to identify those factors that define body conformation. Multiple regression was subsequently performed to predict body weight, using orthogonal traits derived from the factor analysis. Measurements were obtained from 210 chickens, 22 weeks of age, 70 chickens per breed. High correlations were obtained between body weight and all body measurements except for wing length in PK. Two factors extracted after varimax rotation explained 91, 95, and 83% of total variation in VN, NN, and PK, respectively. Factor 1 explained 73, 90, and 64% in VN, NN, and PK, respectively, and was loaded on all body measurements except for wing length in VN and PK. In a multiple regression, these two factors accounted for 72% variation in body weight in VN, while only factor 1 accounted for 83 and 74% variation in body weight in NN and PK, respectively. The two factors could be used to define body size and conformation of these breeds. Factor 1 could predict body weight in all three breeds. Body measurements can be better selected jointly to improve body weight in these breeds.