Estimating the live weight using some body measurements in saanen goats reared in Bolu conditions

This research is carried out to investigate the estimation of the live weight inSaanen Goats reared in Bolu conditions by statistical methods. Seventy Saanen Goatsbred in a private farm were used in this study as material. The goats were dividedinto two groups. The first group included the goats 2-2,5 years age at the firstlactation period while the second group included the goats ready to be inseminatedfor the first time.Wither height (HW), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), chest depth (CD),shank circumference and live weight were measured. Regression and correlationanalysis of the data were made by using SPSS 11 for Windows.The average live weight, heart girth, shank circumference, wither height,body length and chest depth were calculated as 55,37 kg, 91,57 cm, 9,32 cm, 66,94cm, 109,75 cm and 32,55 cm respectively for the first group where the sameparametres were calculated as 41,03 kg, 84,00 cm, 8,86 cm, 62,07 cm, 101,55 cmand 30,27 cm respectively for the second group. In the first group live weight ishighly correlated (P< 0.01) with hearth girth, shank circumference, height at withers,body length and chest depth, where in the second group live weight is highlycorrelated (P<0.01) with hearth girth and body length.As a result of this study the equation for estimation of live weight using bodymeasures was found as follow:The equation for the first group using 5 body measures is,y = -151,295 + 1,067*x1 + 3,262*x2 + 0,167*x3 + 0,604*x4 + 0,254*x5The similar equation for the second group is,y = -64,753 + 0,863*x1 + 0,717*x2-0,029*x3 + 0,207*x4 + 0,254*x5Key words : Live weight, correlation, regression, Saanen Goat, bodymeasurements.