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Apr 18, 2023Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Estimation and modeling of pig body weight using linear body measurements
Abstract
Body weight is an essential index used by producers to determine market-ready pigs, and its accu-rate estimation before the finishing stage helps reduce losses in pig production. However, since most pig farms have limited or no access to weighing scales, this study aimed at modeling linear body measurements to estimate pig body weight. The study involved 83 weaners from a commercial farm at three different ages (4, 5 and 7 weeks) from four breeds comprising Camborough, Large White, and crosses of Camborough with Large White and Landrace. Body weight was measured using digital weighing scale sensitive to 0.00 g, while the eight linear body measurements were taken using a flexible graduated tape, for the points of reference. Nine parameters including body weight (BW), total body length (BL), thoracic circumference (TC), palette length (PL), shank length (SKL), shank circumference (SC), hip circumference (HC), heart girth (HG) and standard body length (SL) were measured, with mean values of 23.12±1.04 kg, 65.24±3.95 cm, 39.66±3.93 cm, 21.49±0.29 cm, 16.16±1.00 cm, 12.96±0.81 cm, 47.12±2.95 cm, 44.77±2.79 cm and 46.78±2.78 cm, respectively. Breed and age exerted significant (p<0.05) influence on each of the nine varia-bles measured, while multiple correlation of variables was mostly highly significant except for pal-ette length and other variables which was mostly not significant (p>0.05). Four of the variables, BW, TC, HG and HC had highest loadings in the eigenvalues obtained from the two principal components, which accounted for 99.1 percent of the total variation. The general model describing body weight in the study was Body Weight = -18.69 - 1.19 TC + 1.46 HG + 0.50 HC which ex-plained 88.26 percent of the total variation in body weight. The study confirmed the reliability of body weight estimation using linear body measurements in pigs, and thus it is recommended that a quick appraisal of the thoracic circumference, heart girth and or hip circumference can give a fair estimate of the pig body weight.
