title: Use of body linear measurements to estimate liveweight of crossbred dairy cattle in smallholder farms in Kenya.
abstract: Body linear measurements, and specifically heart girth (HG), have been shown to be useful predictors of cattle liveweight. To test the accuracy of body linear measurements for predicting liveweight, crossbred dairy cattle of different genotypes were measured and weighed. A total of 352 mature cows and 100 heifers were weighed using an electronic weighing scale and measurements of HG, body length, height at withers were taken using an ordinary measuring tape and body condition scored (BCS) using a five-point scale. The animals were grouped according to genotype and age. Genotype classification was undertaken from farmer recall and by visual appraisal as 40-60, 61-80 or 81-100 % exotic (non-indigenous). Age classification was simply as mature cows or heifers. Liveweight of the animals ranged from 102 to 433 kg. Liveweight was strongly correlated with HG (r = 0.84) and body condition scores (r = 0.70) and moderately correlated with body length (r = 0.64) and height at withers (0.61). Regressing LW on HG measurements gave statistically significant (P < 0.01) equations with R(2) ranging from of 0.53 to 0.78 and residual standard deviation ranging from 18.11 to 40.50 kg. The overall model developed (adjusted R(2) = 0.71) had a prediction error of 26 kg (or 11 % of the mean) and predicted LW of over 95 % of crossbred dairy cattle in the range of 100-450 kg, regardless of age and breed group. Including BCS in the model slightly improved the model fit but not the prediction error. It was concluded that the model can be useful in making general management decisions in smallholder farms.
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Lukuyu
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.affiliation: International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: F D N
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Mujibi
authors.affiliation: International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Okeyo
keywords: Body weight; Crossbreeds; Dairy cows; Liveweight prediction; Small-scale farmers
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2006 Oct;89(10):3992-8
references.pmid: 16960075
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 1987 Mar;70(3):653-60
references.pmid: 3584605
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2009 Dec;92(12):5769-801
references.pmid: 19923585
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 1987 May;19(2):115-20
references.pmid: 3629719
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2004 Oct;36(7):673-84
references.pmid: 15563028
references.citation: Prev Vet Med. 2007 Mar 17;78(3-4):333-8
references.pmid: 17157398
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2012 Sep;95(9):5393-402
references.pmid: 22916946
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2013 Jan;45(1):311-6
references.pmid: 22923040
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2007 Apr;39(3):199-205
references.pmid: 17691544
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2006 Jan;38(1):65-74
references.pmid: 17405630
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 1992 Dec;75(12):3576-81
references.pmid: 1474218
references.citation: Prev Vet Med. 2008 Nov 17;87(3-4):394-403
references.pmid: 18586339
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 1997 Sep;80(9):1988-95
references.pmid: 9313139