The use of body measurements in cattle to predict future live weight
R.W. Webby, C.J. Boom and C.A. Cameron
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton,
New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
2000 60: 129-131
Farmers need to select cattle into final slaughter groups in
advance. Traditionally combinations of live weight and eye appraisal are
used to make these selections. To improve this process, live weight,
length from withers to top of tail, width across hook bones and depth
from brisket level behind shoulder to top of withers were measured at
3-monthly intervals on Angus steers from 8 to 30 months of age. Of all
the individual measurements, previous live weight predicted end weight
better than any single body measurement. This was improved by including
other body measurements selected using stepwise regressions. Although no
particular combination of measurements was best for all time periods the
results showed that length, width and body depth added value to current
live weight as selection criteria for drafting steers into final
slaughter time herds.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
live weight, body measurements, Angus, Friesian, stepwise regressions.
Last Updated 12-07-2000
