Live and Carcass Weights of Western Baggara Cattle

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to investigate the relationship between live weight and body measurements on one hand, hot carcass weight and carcass measurements on the other hand in order to predict the live and carcass weight of beef cattle using prediction equations. Live animal measurements were taken from 274 western Baggara bulls ranging in weight from 170 to 390 kg. The study revealed that heart girth around the hump had the highest correlation coefficient with live weight (r =83, P<0.00I). The data of live animals were grouped according to live weights into three groups: Group A (light weight animals, average live weight of2 09.2 kg), group B (medium weight animals, average live weight of 272.3 kg) and group C (heavy weight animals, average live weight of 362.7 kg). The heart girth around the hump in groups B and C had the highest correlation coefficient with live weight (r =0.66 and 0.89, P<0.00I, respectively). This gave more confidence in the use of the former measurement in prediction of live weight of humped cattle. The calculation of the regression of live weight on heart girth around the hump indicated that a linear relationship existed. The regression equation for prediction of the live weight of cattle was as follows: Y = 2.4573x- 92.472 Where: Y = live weight (kg), x = Heart girth around the hump (cm). Carcass data were obtained from 297 carcasses. Their weights ranged from 113 to 384 kg. Carcass heart girth around the hump had the closest relationship with hot carcass weight (r = 0.79, P< 0.001). The carcass data were also grouped according to the carcass weights into three groups: Group A (light weight carcasses, average weight of 119.5 kg), group B (medium weight carcasses, average weight of 10.6 kg) and group C (heavy weight carcasses, average weight of: 4.9 kg). The highest correlation coefficient was found in group A between hot carcass weight and hind leg circumference (r =0.86, P<0.00I). The regression analysis showed that a linear relationships existed between hot carcass weight and carcass hind leg circumference, carcass heart girth around the hump and carcass length. A prediction equation was then calculated to predict the hot carcass weight of cattle: Y = 1.47x + 24.629 , Where, Y = Hot carcass weight, x = Hind leg circumference (cm).