Correlations among Diverse Morphometric Traits and Live Body Weight in Growing Surti Goats (Capra hircus)
Nilam V. Chaudhary
Riddhi Polytechnic in Animal Husbandry, Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India.
R. R. Singh
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.
P. C. Joshi
*
Veterinary Dispensary Khadkhambhaliya, District Panchayat, Department of Animal Husbandry, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
V. R. Patel
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.
Y. D. Padheriya
Department of Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study was carried out on 124 Surti goats kids aged between 6 to 12 months to assesses body morphometric parameters and their correlations to live body weight. Various body measurements viz. height at wither, height at hipbone, height at pinbone, hock height, chest height, ground to stomach height, humerus height, femur height, body length, heart girth, bicostal girth, paunch girth, fore cannon bone girth, rump length, ilium width of the rump, medium width of the rump and ischium width of the rump were taken. Live body weight of all animals was recorded on the day their body morphometry was done and body weight of animals at different age was examined using the registers maintained on the farm. These animals were classified into 2 different groups based on their age viz. group 1 (> 6 to 9 months) and group 2 (> 9 to 12 months). For group 1 and 2, the corresponding mean and standard error of live body weight were 16.99 ± 00.52 and 21.39 ± 00.62 kg, respectively. In group 2, live body weight was positively and significantly (P<0.001) correlated with heart girth with r of value 0.859. The study demonstrates a strong positive relationship between chronological age and morphometric development, whereby incremental age progression drives simultaneous and proportionate increases across multiple body measurements.
Keywords: Surti goats, body morphometry, correlation, live body weight, height at wither