| Dissertation note |
The present study was conducted at Small Ruminants Training and Research Centre, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus Pattoki. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between live body weight and body measurements in Beetal goats. The goats were arranged in five age groups, A= 0-6 months, B 7-12 months, C = 13-18 months, D= 19-24 months & E> above 24 months. Group A, B and E were further divide into sub group (Male and Female), where as group C and D comprised of females only. Body weights of goats were taken using plate form weighing scale & measurements of body length, height at wither, heart girth, rump and forehead with the help of measuring tape graduated with inches. Data consisted of on 902 observations on goats of different age groups. The mean body weight (kg) of Beetal goat in five age groups ( 0-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24 and above 24 months of age) was observed as 7.19±4.197, 6.57±3.54 (female), 7.58±4.54 (male), 21.01±5.07, 22.0±4.13 (female), 11.73±3.39 (male), 27.16±3.94, 38.14±5.78, 49.59±9.85, 45.94±6.81 (female) and 62.38±8.21 kg (male), respectively. The body length (inches), of Beetal goat recorded in these age groups was found to be 15.81±2.68, 15.68±2.48 (female), 16.16±2.80 (male), 23.95±2.60 (overall), 24.5±2.03 (female), 18.90±1.87 (male), 26.60±1.35, 29.68±1.34, 3 1.58±0.73 inches, 30.86±1.11 (females) and 34.13±1.73 (male). The mean height at withers (inches) in Beetal goat in five age groups was noted to be 17.50±2.60, 17.18±2.40 (female), 17.72±2.72 (male), 25.76±2.72, 26.34±2.04 (female), 20.24±2.07 (male), 28.34±1.32, 31.02±1.43, 32.42±0.82, 31.52±1.11 (females) and 35.60±1.61 (male) inches respectively. The mean heart girth (inches) in Beetal goat in these age groups was recorded to be 16.36±2.70, 16.02±2.44 (female), 16.58±2.86 (male), 24.25±2.66, 24.78±2.02 (female), 16.36±1.82 (male), 26.93±1.41, 30.32±1.63, 32.73±.87, 31.93±1.71 (females) and 35.60±1.28 (male) respectively. The mean rump (inches) for all five age groups was 2.70±0.92 inches, 2.67±0.51 (female), 2.70±0.53 (male), 4.74±0.63, 4.80±0.45 (female), 3.43±0.41 (male), 5.27±1.47, 5.80±0.40, 6.36±0.24; 6.18±0.47 (females) and 7.04±0.60, (male) respectively, while the mean forehead (inches) for all five ages group was 2.10±0.26, 2.11±0.28 (female), 2.10±0.26 (male), 2.97±0.30, 3.07±0.26 (female), 2.50±0.35 (male), 3.18±1.26, 3.43±0.20, 3.66±0.3 8, 3.46±0.13 inches (females) and 4.33±0.33 (male) respectively. The correlation between body weight and body length, height at withers, heart girth, rump and forehead for group A were 0.969, 0.962, 0.964, 0.856 and 0.878 respectively, for female was 0.965, 0.645, 0.971, 0.830 and 0.918 respectively, while for male were 0.972, 0.967, 0.962, 0.877 and 0.882, respectively. For group B the correlation between body weight and body length, height at withers, heart girth, rump and forehead were 0.928, 0.869, 0.911, 0.828 and 0.653 respectively. Correlations for females were 0.888, 0.781, 0.857, 0.725 and 0.653 respectively, while for males were 0.857, 0.897, 0.887, 0.63 1 and 0.642, respectively. The correlations for group C were 0.805, 0.766, 0.767, 0.088 and 0.229 respectively. For group D 0.782, 0.575, 0.749, 0.94 and 0. 435, respectively. The correlation for group E were 0.844, 0.753, 0.86, 0.70 and 0.61, respectively, for females were 0.612, 0.318, 0.723, 0.394 and 0.062 while for male were 0.842, 0.744, 0.879, 0.788 and -0.007 respectively. It was found during the study that body weight was highly correlated with body measurements in Beetal goats of all age's group. The body length, height at withers and heart girth were observed to be significantly correlated with body weight. During present investigation males were heavier and longer than females in all age groups. Similarly the heart girths as well as height at withers were also bigger in males than those of the females.
|
