Abstract

Study was conducted to estimate the live weight in Ongole crossbred cow using chest girth, body length and body volume model represented by chest girth and body length dimensions in North Sulawesi province. Data on animal live weight (LW), body length (BL), chest girth (CG) and body volume were collected from cows (n=363) kept by traditional household farmers. Animal body volume was calculated using cylinder volume formula with CG and BL as the components of model. Regression analysis was carried out for LW with all linear body measurements. Data were classified based on age of animals which resulted from five age groups (2.5-3.5, 3.6-4.5, 4.6-5.5, 5.6-6.5, 6.6-7.5, 2.5-7.5). Age significantly (P<0.05) influenced all body measurements. Correlations between all pairs of measurements were highly significant (P<0.001) for all age groups, except between BL and CG as well as LW at ages of 3.5 to 7.5 years old. Regression analysis showed that live weight could be predicted accurately from body volume (R²=0.96). Simple regression model being recommended to predict live weight of Ongole crossbred cows based on body volume with their age groups ranging from 2.5 to ≥7.5 years old is as follows: Live weight (kg) = 1.26016 * body volume (liters) - 3.06084.

Key words: Ongole crossbred cows, live weight estimation, body linear measurements.