Linear Body Measurements Research Articles

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Sex Determination in the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Based on External Measurements.

The possibility of sex identification of birds has substantial importance for studies on different aspects of bird ecology and behaviour. Using discriminant functions is becoming increasingly popular in studies of bird species that are monomorphic in plumage characteristics because they are cheap, hardly invasive and may be applied to data collected in the past. In this paper, we provide a discriminant function to sex great cormorants using external measurements. Males were larger than females in all linear body measurements, but there were no significant differences between adults and juveniles. Thus, data on juveniles and adults within a sex was combined. Discriminant equations with the most commonly used linear measurements, wing length and bill length, were provided. If identifying birds with discriminant function values D2 < -1.256 as females and those with D2 > 0.916 as males, 99% of birds will be correctly sexed. The method presented here makes it possible to account for sex-specific patterns in ecological studies of the great cormorant and may be applied to data collected in the past. The cross-application of discriminant functions developed for other populations of the great cormorant produces a 5.4% and 7.5% misclassification rate for birds from northern Poland using discriminant equations developed for populations in Greece and the Netherlands, respectively.

Hemoglobin polymorphism and its association with morphometric and egg production traits in Ethiopian indigenous and Sasso chicken breeds.

The present study investigated the biochemical polymorphism of hemoglobin (Hb) and its relationship with performance traits of Ethiopian indigenous and Sasso chicken breeds. A total of 284 chickens reared in three agro-ecologies were examined for genetic diversity and associations with productive traits at Hb locus using agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the HbA allele was dominant in both breeds, and a higher proportion of male chickens were HbAA genotypes, while females were predominantly HbBB types. In the highland agro-ecology, chickens with the HbAA genotype were the most dominant, whereas in mid- and low-land agro-ecologies, chickens with HbBB and HbAB genotypes were found to be more frequent. A moderate level of expected heterozygosity was obtained with 0.47 and 0.445 for indigenous and Sasso chickens, respectively, with an average effective number of alleles per locus of 1.89 and 1.80. Moreover, chickens with HbAA genotypes showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher body weight and linear body measurements than those of HbAB and HbBB genotypes. However, for appendage body structures (comb and wattle dimensions), chickens with the HbAB and HbBB genotypes had higher mean values. Additionally, clutch size (14.2 ± 0.4), clutch length (21.8 ± 0.7), and eight-month egg production (84.1 ± 1.2) were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher for hens with HbBB genotypes, followed by those with HbAB-types. Therefore, the considerable hemoglobin variability and significant associations of Hb variants with the performance traits can be sought as guiding information for further genetic improvement interventions in the chicken breeds under investigation. Further microsatellite marker-based genotyping is recommended to validate the higher morphometric values for HbAA genotypes and the better egg production for HbBB and HbAB genotypes.

Morphometric comparison of linear body size of IPB D1 chickens and native chickens through discriminant analysis

Animal protein production from chickens predominantly comes from purebred chicken farms rather than local ones. Improving the genetic quality of local chickens in Indonesia can be achieved through developing IPB D1 chickens. This study aims to identify distinguishing variables between IPB D1 chickens and native chickens using linear body measurements through discriminant analysis. The research involved IPB D1 chickens and native chickens in the layer phase, employing descriptive statistical analysis, T2-Hotelling, Fisher linear discriminant analysis, and Wald-Anderson classification. Results showed that IPB D1 roosters and native roosters differ in femur length (X1), tarsometatarsus circumference (X4), maxilla length (X7), and comb height (X8) with a morphometric dissimilarity of 2.06. IPB D1 hens and native hens differ in tarsometatarsus circumference (X4) and wing length (X6), with a morphometric dissimilarity of 1.41. The Wald-Anderson classification, based on natural selection, suggests removing particular chickens that are not classified as IPB D1 and native chickens from their respective groups to produce chickens that match their characteristics.

39 Effects of feeding sun-dried bovine rumen contents on growth and carcass quality of New Zealand White rabbits

This research study aimed to investigate the impact of sun-dried bovine rumen contents (SDBRC) on the growth and linear body measurements of New Zealand White rabbits. The experimental rabbits (n=12) were selected from four New Zealand White bucks and subsequently allocated into three distinct treatments, each with specific dietary compositions. The control group was provided with a standard diet of rabbit pellets, while the experimental groups received rabbit pellets supplemented with 30% (Treatment A) and 40% (Treatment B) of SDBRC. All animals were subjected to consistent and meticulous livestock management practices throughout the 12-week experimental period. There were no significant differences in the growth of rabbits given rabbit pellets and 30% SDBRC. However, the live weight gain and final weights of rabbits on 40% SDBRC inclusion were significantly lower than the 30% SDBRC inclusion and the control (P&lt;0.05). Parameters, such as total feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and dressing percentage were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05). The linear body measurements (heart girth, body length, and abdominal circumference), were not significantly (P&gt;0.05) influenced by dietary variations. Carcass weight for the rabbits on 40% SDBRC inclusion was significantly lower than for rabbits on the control and 30% SBDRC inclusion diets (p=0.001). Other carcass parameters such as meat colour and pH exhibited no significant differences across all three treatments (p&gt;0.05). These findings highlight the promising potential of incorporating SDBRC into rabbit diets, particularly up to 30%, without compromising growth performance and carcass characteristic.

Evaluation of growth performance traits of F1 progenies derived from crossbred of an exotic chicken with Nigerian Indigenous chicken

Data were obtained for growth traits from fifty (50) progenies from straight crossing produced from crosses involving Arbor Acre (broiler) cocks and Nigerian Indigenous (Normal feather and naked neck) hens. Significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) were observed in breed and sex across all bodyweight and body linear measurements at 4-12 weeks of age. The result indicated that Arbor acre naked neck (AANN) birds had the highest body weight (120.95 g), keel length (5.11 g), and shank length (7.34 g). Also, AANN had the highest feed intake (148.40 g) with AANN having a good FCR of 3.98 and WG of 37.33. There were also similar body weights of AANN (456.20 g) and AANF (302.73 g) at 8 weeks of age, while the feed conversion rate was also observed to be better in AANN (1.61) than Arbor acre normal feather (1.70). The interaction effects of growth traits revealed slightly similar values for both sexes in AANF while male AANN outperformed across all parameters measured except for keel length It was concluded that Arbor Acre x Naked neck (AANN) had higher morphometric characteristics and also exhibited higher values for growth performance than Arbor Acre x Normal feather (AANF), hence can be utilized for meat purposes if further study can be conducted on it.

Growth Traits as Predictors of Body Weight in Sheep: A Review

The sheep production industry affects most rural areas and communal farm enterprises in the tropics and sub-tropics as a source of income. The motivation behind the present literature review was to provide detailed literature from various sources on the estimation of body weight from the growth traits of sheep. The review was conducted to highlight the importance of body weight and the significance of growth traits (heart girth, withers height, body length, sternum height, and rump height) as parameters to predict body weight. The main reason for livestock practice is to ensure food security. Therefore, it is important to assess economic traits and determine the carcass merit of sheep. Linear body measurement is a practical, fast, easy, and cheap method broadly utilized in national breeding programs to predict body weight and improve meat productivity in rural areas. The current review indicated that growth traits could be used to predict the body weight of sheep since they importantly provide necessary information about the morphological structure and potential development of the animals.

Linear body measures to predict the live weight of creole goats in Northeastern of Mexico

Linear body measures to predict the live weight of creole goats in Northeastern of Mexico

Use of data mining algorithms to predict body weight of Dorper sheep Breed in two selected villages of Lepelle-Nkumpi local municipality in Limpopo province, South Africa

Sheep farmers in village areas find it difficult to estimate body weight without the weighing tools. The best fitted model for estimation of sheep body weight is not conclusive. Classification and regression tree (CART), Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID), Exhaustive chi-square automatic interaction detection (Ex-CHAID) and Multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) were used to predict body weight (BW) of 306 Dorper sheep (female = 244 and male = 62) aged 1 to 2 years from linear body measurement traits such as rump height (RH), rump length (RL), heart girth (HG), withers height (WH), and body length (BL). Goodness of fit criteria's such as Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), coefficient of determination (R2), Akaike's information criterion AIC and adjusted R2 (Adj.R2) were computed for data mining algorithms performance assessment. The results indicated that MARS was the best data mining algorithm with r of 0.979, R2 of 0.958, Adj.R2 of 0.957, RMSE of 2.503 and AIC of 422.25. The MARS model provided the most appropriate predictive capability in the prediction of body weight for Dorper sheep with HG, WH, RH, BL, and sex (male) as the important traits. As a result, MARS data mining algorithm might be used to identify factors that might be vital to improve body weight of Dorper sheep for breeding programs.

"Predicting the Body Weight of Indigenous Sheep from Linear Body Measurement Traits Using Classification and Regression Tree Data Mining Algorithm"

"Predicting the Body Weight of Indigenous Sheep from Linear Body Measurement Traits Using Classification and Regression Tree Data Mining Algorithm"

Prediction of Live Weight and Carcass Characteristics from Linear Body Measurements of Yearling Male Local Sheep

Measurements of the body structure in sheep are worthy of judging the quantitative features of meat and useful in developing appropriate selection requirements. The current study was aimed to predict live weight and hot carcass weight from linear body measurements of yearling male local sheep. 84 days feeding period fortnightly taken data on 24 local sheep for body weight, body length, heart girth, wither height, sub-sternal height, tail length, tail width, scrotal circumference, and scrotal length were analyzed to study the relationship between linear body measurements and body weight. At the end of the trial all sheep were slaughtered to measure the relationship between body measurements, and hot carcass weight. Microsoft Excel 2010 was used for data analysis. The relationships between the various body measurements were calculated using pearson's correlation coefficient. The backward stepwise multiple regression procedure was used for the determination of the most suitable model for the prediction of the live weight and hot carcass weight. Hot carcass weight was highly correlated (P&lt;0.01) with body weight and scrotal circumference. Besides, it was significantly (P&lt;0.05) correlated with tail width. Body weight was significantly (P&lt;0.05) correlated with all body measurements except tail length and scrotal length. It is concluded that the body weight of the local sheep can be predicted with heart girth, sub-sternal height and tail width; the equation is LW= -97.2 + 0.36HG + 2.1SBSH + 0.57TW with a better coefficient of determination; R2 = 0.55 and the hot carcass weight can be predicted with sub-sternal height and tail width; the equation is HCW= -75.66 + 1.75SBSH + 0.85TW with a coefficient of determination; R2 = 0.33. But, hot carcass can be predicted with body weight, the equation is HCW= -9.39+0.85BWT when weighing scales are affordable with a better coefficient of determination; R2= 0.557.

Effect of supplementing concentrate mixture with field pea hull on yearling ram lambs of local sheep: Nutrient intake, linear body measurements, and changes in body weight

The fattening of sheep has been recognized as a potentially profitable activity in the highlands of Ethiopia. However, feed shortage and increasing prices for conventional feed ingredients and commercially formulated concentrate mixtures critically affect the fattening practice of sheep in the country. So, this feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding field pea hull at different inclusion levels with a concentrate mixture on feed intakes, nutrient utilization, linear body measurements, and body weight gain. Eighteen yearling ram lambs were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments using a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were T1 (control), fed native hay adlibitum + concentrate mixture formulated using only conventional feed ingredients (0% field pea hull); T2 and T3 were fed native hay adlibitum + concentrate mixture formulated with inclusion of 35% field pea hull and 50% field pea hull, respectively along with other feed ingredients. The feeding trial was conducted for 90 days. Data were analyzed using GLM procedures of SAS, and Turkey’s HSD multiple-comparison was used for means separation. The result showed a significant (p&lt;0.001) variation in dry matter and nutrient intake among treatments. The DMI was the highest in T3, followed by T2, while it was the lowest in T1. The average total neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber intakes and metabolizable energy intake were highest in T3 and followed by T2, while they were the lowest in T1. The average total body weight gain (kg) was higher in T3 (9.0kg) and T2 (8.67kg) than in T1 (6.58kg). Similarly, higher average daily body weight gains were recorded in T3 (100g) and T2 (96.3g) than in T1 (73.2g). Sheep that were fed field pea hull by the inclusion of 50 % in concentrate mixtures (T3) were more efficient in feed utilization (p&lt;0.05) than T1 as they consumed significantly less amount of feed per 1 g of body weight gain. Hence, it is concluded that feeding of 50% field pea hull along with concentrate mixture could be used for better fattening performance of sheep.

Breed Preference by Farmers and the Morphometric Characteristics of Sukuma Goats and a Crossbred of Malya and Sukuma Goats in Maswa District, Tanzania

Aims: To study farmers’ perception toward performance of crossbreds (Malya x Sukuma) relative to the indigenous Sukuma goats.&#x0D; Study Design: The study was of cross-sectional design employing comparative analysis.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Maswa District of Tanzania over a three weeks period.&#x0D; Methodology: Fifty respondents from household which were previously involved in the crossbreeding program were sampled purposively. In which they were interviewed using questionnaires on good/positive and bad/negative attributes for each genotype, then ranks of desired breed according to market price, mature body size and age of attaining mature size. Body weights and linear body measurement of mature crossbred (Malya x Sukuma) goats and pure Sukuma goats were also taken after interviewing each household respondent. Interview data were analyzed using descriptive statistics option of SPSS and body measurements were analyzed using GLM procedure of SAS.&#x0D; Results: The most preferred breed was crossbred goats due to their high market price, large mature body size and early age of attaining mature size. Good attributes for Sukuma goats were disease resistance (98%) and drought resistance (94%) while bad attributes were low price in the market (88%), small body size (94%) and slow growth rate (72%). Good attributes for crossbred goats were premium price in the market (92%), high growth rate (80%) and large body size (94%). Bad attributes for crossbred goats had very low frequency. The crossbred goats were larger compared to Sukuma goats. Their mature body measurements were body length (60.6±0.46 cm), heart girth (77.6±0.58 cm), height at withers (66.4±0.42 cm) and body weight (35.1±0.52 kg) for crossbred goats while corresponding mature body measurements for Sukuma goats were 49.6±0.42 cm, 65.1±0.54 cm, 56.7±0.39 cm and 21.6±0.48 kg, respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion: Crossbred goats were accepted by farmers due to their beneficial impact to the households’ economy.

The Zenga cattle of Uganda: Insights from morphometric measurements

Ankole Longhorn (ALH), Nganda (NGA) and Small East African Shorthorn Zebu (SEAZ) are indigenous Ugandan cattle and poorly characterized. The ancestry of ALH is traced to lateral horned Zebu and indigenous African long horned taurine. The ALH and SEAZ are parent breeds of NGA. Therefore, the current study aimed at phenotypic characterization of Nganda (NGA) and Teso Zebu (TSZ) in Uganda. Data were collected on 41 variables including geographic location, breed and morphometric measurements. A sample of 129 NGA from central and 63 TSZ from eastern Uganda were studied. Descriptive and inferential statistics were generated. Generally, the NGA was a chest-humped breed akin to its parent breeds. The breed had a solid brown coat and extremities (e.g., hooves) compared to the wide color variation tending to solid black in the TSZ. The NGA had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean values for all linear body measurements except height at withers. However, all linear measurements except ear length were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the interaction between breed and sex. The rump profile showed distinct breed differences. Our results demonstrate superiority of NGA over the TSZ in terms of linear traits. These results are pertinent in planning the sustainable utilization of these breeds.

The meta-analysis of beef cattle body weight prediction using body measurement approach with breed, sex, and age categories.

The aim of the study was to use a meta-analysis to identify the correlation between linear body measurements, including body length (BL), wither height (WH), heart girth (HG), and body volume (BV), and body weight in beef cattle by breed, sex, and age as categories. These results can be used as a method for predicting beef cattle body weight. This study used systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines to create a checklist. The first stage was searching for papers relevant to the study objectives. The second stage was searching using the keywords beef cattle, body weight, body measurement, and correlation. The third stage was reviewing the title and abstract. The fourth stage was abstracting information from selected papers, and the last stage was tabulating data. The results from this study were obtained, and 32 papers were eligible for the meta-analysis stage. The correlation between linear body measurement and body weight of beef cattle showed that HG (r = 0.88) and BV (r = 0.97) were significantly (p < 0.05) different compared to BL (r = 0.74) and WH (r = 0.72). The correlation between HG and body weight, and the categorization of cattle breeds showed significantly (p < 0.05) different results. The correlation between BV and body weight of cattle according to breed categories showed results that were not significantly (p > 0.05) different, while age was significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, to predict beef cattle body weight, it is necessary to use HG or BV, with breed, sex, and age of cattle as categories.

Effects of a novel synbiotics-enzyme complex as a replacement for antibiotics on growth performance, slaughter and meat characteristics, immune organ index, and intestinal morphology of broilers.

Antibiotic use in broilers is being discouraged globally due to the challenges it poses. This study was conducted to assess the effects of supplementing broilers with a Symbiotic-Enzyme complex (SEC) containing prebiotics (mannose oligosaccharides), probiotics (Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis), and enzymes (glucose oxidase, and α-galactosidase) as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, carcass and meat quality traits, mortality, linear body measurements, intestinal morphology and immune organ indexes. A total of 864 mixed-sex 1-day-old arbor acres (AA+) broilers were allocated to 8 experimental groups replicated 9 times with 12 chickens per replicate. These included 6 treatment groups with SEC inclusion levels of 0.025, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10%, respectively, and two control groups: a negative control group containing a basal diet only and the positive control group (Antibiotics group) containing a basal diet and antibiotic oxytetracycline added at 0.2%. Growth performance was measured on day 21 and 42, and the mortality, carcass, meat quality traits, linear body measurements, intestinal morphology, and organ size indexes were measured on day 42. The results indicated that supplementing broilers with 0.1% SEC resulted in insignificant (P > 0.05) increases in average daily feed intake (ADFI), significant (P < 0.05) increases in the average daily gains (ADG), and significant (P < 0.05) reduction in a feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) in all the phases compared to the control and antibiotics groups. Supplementation of broilers with 0.1% SEC inclusion levels also significantly (P < 0.05) increased the body slope length, chest width, chest depth, keel length, and shank circumference. Furthermore, broilers on diets containing 0.1% SEC inclusion level also had significantly (P < 0.05) higher dressed, semi-evisceration, evisceration, and breast muscle percentages. Including SEC at 0.1% also significantly (P < 0.05) increased villus height and villus-to-crypt ratio (V/C) but reduced crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum compared to the control groups. SEC inclusion at 0.1% significantly (P < 0.05) increased the spleen, bursal, and thymus indexes, respectively. Supplementation of broilers with 0.1% SEC can be used as an antibiotic alternative because it increases the F/G, improves the carcass and meat quality, increases the body conformation, improves the small intestines' functions, and immune organ size.

Prediction of Growth Rate and Body Weight of Sasso Chickens from Linear Body Measurements Using Path Analysis

Prediction of Growth Rate and Body Weight of Sasso Chickens from Linear Body Measurements Using Path Analysis

Relationship Between Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements at Various Stages of Permanent Tooth Eruption in Indigenous Matebele Female Goats of Zimbabwe

Relationship Between Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements at Various Stages of Permanent Tooth Eruption in Indigenous Matebele Female Goats of Zimbabwe

Relationship between Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements in Pakistani Quail (Coturnix japonica PK)

Relationship between Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements in Pakistani Quail (Coturnix japonica PK)

Zambian indigenous chicken genetic resources: phenotypic characteristics and their production systems among small-scale farmers.

Indigenous chickens are very important to households for income and protein. However, their performance is usually poor, especially under small-scale farmer management, despite their potential to perform better. The performance of these chickens can be improved by selective breeding. However, for this to be a success, there is a need to understand the phenotypic and production characteristics of these chickens fully. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the phenotypes of these chickens and their production system among small-scale farmers. A structured questionnaire was administered to 177 small-scale farmers. A total of 538 chickens whose mean weight was 1.66 kg were individually phenotyped in Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern provinces of Zambia. Ownership of the indigenous chickens was dominated by females (65.37%), with most (64.31%) having attained primary education. Most housed their chickens in family houses (42.03%). All the farmers let their chickens scavenge for their feed, with 45.58% of them providing basic supplementation. Most (84.10%) farmers bought their breed stock from within their community and had a mean flock size of 12.5 chickens/household, which they mostly (78.09%) kept as free-range. The majority (77.39%) practiced culling, with low productivity being the most common reason for culling (84.45%). Only 59.01% of farmers practiced selective breeding, while 86.22% practiced uncontrolled mating. The age at first mating for cocks and hens was 6.8 months and 6.34 months, respectively, with 6.73 months being the age at first egg. It takes 15.43 days to reach a mean clutch size of 13 eggs. The hatchability and mortality at 8 weeks were 83.44% and 67.57%, respectively. All chickens were sold as live chickens, and the majority (51.59%) of the farmers sold their chickens within the community at 7.23 months. Diseases and predators were the most common challenges affecting farmers in the study area. Consultations with veterinarians, vaccinations, and deworming were uncommon while treating sick chickens mostly using ethnoveterinary medicines was common. The most common qualitative traits were brown (27.88%) and mixed (26.77%) plumage color, white skins (91.45%) and shanks (48.70%), single comb type (91.08%), red earlobe (55.76%), and orange eyes (78.07%). All linear body measurements positively and significantly correlated with the body weight averaging 1.66kgs, an indicator that selection for any of them would result in a corresponding increase in body weight. Principal Component Analysis extracted two components with 69.38% of the total variation. The diversity in phenotypes of these chickens and their production systems indicate huge potential for improvement by implementing breeding programs.

Prediction of body weights from linear body parameters of rabbit genotypes in the humid tropics

This study aimed to determine the association between body weight and linear body parameters in rabbits. A total of 93 kittens generated from crosses of New Zealand White (NZW) x NZW, Chinchilla (CHA) x CHA, NZW x CHA, and CHA x NZW genotypes of rabbit in a nested classification of a Completely Randomized Design were used for this study. Data on body circumference weight (BW) and linear body parameters namely, body length (BL), ear length (EL), heart girth (HG), head-to-shoulder (HS), length of hind limb (LHB), length of forelimb (LFB), tail length (TL) and thigh girth (TG) were taken bi-weekly from weeks 2 to 12. The regression procedure used was a stepwise multiple regression using the backward elimination method. The body weight was regressed on linear body parameters using the stepwise multiple regression procedure in SPSS software. The result showed that the regressions of body weight on linear body parameters are all positive and highly significant (p&lt;0.01; 0.05) except for CHA x CHA in week 2. The values of the coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 26 - 91% in NZW x NZW, 85 - 98% in NZW x CHA, 1 - 88% in CHA x CHA, and 92 - 99% in CHA x NZW. CHA x NZW had the highest R2 value of 94, 99, 94, 97, and 96% in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12, respectively. NZW x CHA also had a similar R2 value of 94, 96, and 98% in weeks 2, 8 and 10, respectively. For predicting body weight at weeks 2 and 4, LFB and TG were good predictors of body weight for NZW x NZW mating type while at weeks 6 and 10, LFB was a good predictor of body weight. Also, BL and HS proved to be the best predictors of body weight for NZW x CHA mating type. For CHA x CHA, HG and TG were good predictors of body weight while in CHA x NZW, BL was a good predictor of body weight at these periods except for weeks 10 and 12. This suggests that body weight increases with an increase in linear body measurements. Except CHA x CHA in weeks 2 and 12, all the multiple regression equations were significant; all the parameters had R2 values above 60% which shows that the linear model was a perfect fit. Hence, BL can be predicted with accuracy using CHA x NZW cross to facilitate the selection of rabbits for body weight-related purposes.