The investigation of relationship between live weight and body measurements in Karacabey Merino sheep

This study was aimed to investigate relationship between live weight and body measurement for Karacabey Merino sheep. The live weights were measured 34.40±1.17 kg and 43.56±0.96 kg to female and male lamb for 5 months ages (P<0.05). The withers heights were measured 62.26±0.64 cm and 64.79±0.58 cm to female and male lamb for 5 months ages (P<0.05). The live weights were measured 65.26±1.49kg for sheep of seven years old, 75.07±1.90 kg for sheep of nine years old and 68.61±1.11 kg for general groups, this different were found as important statistically (P<0.05).The correlation coefficients were calculate betweenCA and GÇ as r=0.86 and r=0.64 for female and male lambs respectively, (P<0.01).The correlation coefficients were calculate betweenCA and GÇ as r=0.90, r=0.93 and r=0.79 for sheep of 5, 6 and 7 years old, respectively (P<0.01). The prediction of live weight from body measurement for single independent variable were found as CA=-26.56+0.64GÇ (R2=0.75) and multiple independent variables as CA=-42.39+0.18VU+0.596GÇ+0.93OİÇ (R2=0.83) for female lambs.The prediction of live weight from body measurement for multiple independent variables was found as CA=-43.1+0.27CY+0.35VU+0.93GG (R2=0.65) for male lambs.The prediction of live weight from body measurement for single independent variable were found asCA=-54.64+1.17GÇ (R2=0.71)and multiple independent variables as CA=-69.69+0.62VU+0.87GÇ (R2=0.77) for sheep of general groups. As consequently, it was recommended that chest circumference is preferred for single independent variable and body length, withers heights and rump height are preferred for multiple independent variables from the other body measurements in regression equation