THE EFFECT OF AGE ON PREDICTION OF BODY WEIGHT FROM BODY LINEAR MEASUREMENTS OF FEMALE INDIGENOUS MATEBELE GOAT IN ZIMBABWE

THE EFFECT OF AGE ON PREDICTION OF BODY WEIGHT FROM BODY LINEAR MEASUREMENTS OF FEMALE INDIGENOUS MATEBELE GOAT IN ZIMBABWE

NEVER ASSAN

MACHEL MUSASIRA

NICHOLAS MWAREYA

KWENA MOKOENA

THOBELA LOUIS T YASI

ENOCK MUTEYO

The primary goal of the study was to establish models for predicting body weight (BW) using linear body measurements (LBMs) in indigenous Matebele does. BW data were correlated and regressed to body measurements (wither height = WTH, heart girth = HG, body length = BL, and rump height = RH) using linear and multiple linear regression of Statistical Package SS. A total of 127 does of different ages of 2yrs (N=26), 3yrs (N=34), 4yrs (N=32), and 5yrs (N=35) were used in the study. The strongest association (r = 0.89) was observed between HG and BW in
5-year-old females, and (r = 0.73) between WTH and BW. In 2-year-old females, BL was associated with RH (r = 0.89) and WTH (r = 0.88). In does aged 4 years, the coefficients of correlation between BW and all LBMs were high and positive. The best fits were found for all different age groups when all four LBMs were included in the model, with 2yr (R2 = 0.599), 3yr (R2 = 0.624), 4yr (R2 = 0.97), and 5yr (R2 = 0.845). With increasing dam age, predictive power strengthens. In the 4yr age group, linear body measures (R 2 = 0.638) and BL (R 2 = 0.501) provided satisfactory predictors of body weight as single factors. The findings indicate that the body weight of does in native Matebele goats of different ages could be calculated in the field using linear body measures obtained with a tape measure if there was no available weighing equipment

Journal of Animal Health and Production

2025