Bioprediction of body weight and carcass parameters from morphometric measurements in livestock and poultry

Abstract

Body weight is an important attribute in animal production as it forms the basis for not only assessing growth and feed efficiency but also in making economic and management decisions. The major focus of this review is to look at bioprediction of body weight and carcass parameters  from morphometric (linear body) measurements in livestock and poultry production. There is a consensus amongst researchers working with different livestock and poultry species that morphometric characteristics could serve as predictors of body weight and carcass parameters. Different studies have exploited correlations of morphometric  measurements with body weight and carcass parameters  to develop techniques for estimating body weight and carcass parameters in different  livestock and poultry species, where weighing scales may not be available. The review  highlights some of the factors which may influence the accuracy of prediction of body weight and carcass parameters using regression models.  Categorization of data according to sex and age is necessary to improve prediction power of equations. The estimation of body weight using morphometric measurements becomes very useful in smallholder livestock and poultry producers who rarely keep birth records. Measurements of various morphometric traits are of value in estimating body weight and carcass parameters  in livestock and poultry production and because of the relative ease in measurements they can be used as an indirect method of predicting body weight and carcass parameters. These will provide good information on performance, productivity and carcass characteristics of livestock and poultry. The review concludes that there is need to develop different predictive equation for various species since different species have different relationship between linear body measurements with body weight and carcass parameters. The use of morphometric measurements to predict body weight or carcass parameters would overcome many of the problems associated with visual assessment or evaluation.