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Correlations between body measures with live weight in young male goats

ABSTRACT.

Data analysis in goat production, such as those related to body and scrotal measurements, indicate the productive and reproductive animal development. The current study aimed to evaluate the correlations between thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), body compacity (BC), body volume (BV), and scrotal circumference (SC) with body weight (BW) in young male goats of Saanen and Boer breeds. It was used 38 Saanen and 24 Boer male goats, with age average of 7.2 ± 2.0 months. Thoracic perimeter and body length measurements were obtained using a tape measure (cm) and the live weight (kg) a mechanic scale. The variables body compacity (BC) and body volume (BV) were calculated using the equations: BC = BW.BL -1 and BV = TP.BL. Boer breed showed live weight and body compacity higher than Saanen breed (p < 0.05). Regarding correlations between biometric measurements and body weight, we did not find any statistical differences between the breeds (p > 0.05). The scrotal circumference presented the lowest association with body weight (p < 0.05). However, all biometric measurements showed highly significant correlations with live body (p < 0.01). In conclusion, thoracic perimeter was the main measure of body weight predictor, considering efficiency and practical aspects.

Keywords:
biometry; boer; kid goats; saanen; scrotal perimeter

Introduction

Dairy goat production in Brazil has been growing, due to several aspects that favor this animal breeding. Among these aspects that support goat production can be cited: simple management, medium size, behavioral and milk and meat production from goats. Moreover, goat production needs just small areas to be developed and goat milk and milk products have high economic and nutritional values (Alves, Lima, Cavalcanti, & Gonçalvez 2020Alves, R. N., Lima, T. L. S., Cavalcanti, M. T., & Gonçalvez, M. C. (2020). Cheese Coalho goat condimented with marmeleiro shelf life study, market profile and sensory acceptance. Research, Society and Development, 9(3), 1-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i3.2330
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i3.2330...
). It is worth pointing out that the goat population in Brazil is superior to 8.2 million animals with 92% of them in the Northeast region, mainly related to familiar production. However, the Southeast region, with 2.2% of Brazilian goat herd, is distinguished due to a goat dairy production in intensive system using exotic breeds (Ferreira et al., 2014Ferreira, T. A., Pereira, I. G., Gouveia, A. M. G., Pires, A. V., Facó, O., Farah, M. M., & Guimarães, M. P. S. L. P. M. (2014). Avaliação genética de caprinos da raça Saanen nascidos no Brasil de 1979 a 2009. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 66(4), 1179-1188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-6154
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-6154...
). Besides the dairy goats in Brazil, there are also meat goat breeds being raised (Hassum & Menezes, 2005Hassum, I. C., & Menezes, R. C. A. A. (2005). Infecção natural por espécies do gênero Eimeria em pequenos ruminantes criados em dois municípios do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 14(3), 95-100.). Among the exotic dairy and meat goat breeds raised in Brazil we can highlight: Saanen and Boer, respectively (Menezes et al., 2007Menezes, J. J. L., Gonçalves, H. C., Ribeiro, M. S., Rodrigues, L., Cañizares, G. I. L., Medeiros, B. B. L., & Giassetti, A. P. (2007). Desempenho e medidas biométricas de caprinos de diferentes grupos raciais. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia , 36(3), 635-642. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982007000300017
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-3598200700...
). Nevertheless, Brazilian goat production is mainly developed by small family producers with scarce resources for animal evaluation and selection.

In that context, body measurements obtained using tape measures are viable parameters for small producers. Considering that body weight is the most used measurement to determine animal development (Ferreira et al., 2018Ferreira, J. M. S., Gois, G. C., Pessoa, R. M. S., Silva, A. A. F., Lima, C. A. B., Campos, F. S., ... Santos, R. N. (2018). Características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de caprinos de diferentes genótipos. Pubvet, 12(6), 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v12n6a111.1-12
https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v12n6a11...
), this parameter can be not feasible for producers without an expensive specific goat scale. In order to overcome limitations like this, options for animal development evaluation are necessary. One of the options is to obtain measurements that are body weight correlated. Measurements like these could be achieved by inexpensive and simple tape measures. Among the body measurements that showed body weight correlations we have: body length, thoracic perimeter, body volume and body compacity. Using regression analyses, equations are defined to estimate body weight through body measurements and are used to develop weight tapes, which estimate weight based on body measurements. Silva et al. (2018Silva, L. S., Santos, D. S., Silva, E. R., Silva, J. K. B., Silva, G. A., Vieira, G. N., & Moreno, G. M. B. (2018). Desenvolvimento e zoometria de caprinos leiteiros jovens de diferentes grupos genéticos. Pubvet , 12(2), 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v12n2a27.1-9
https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v12n2a27...
) observed significant correlations between body length and thoracic perimeter with body weight in goats.

Animal biometrics analyses are essential for selecting superior animals in goat herds and, consequently, improve the goat production success (Ferreira et al., 2014Ferreira, T. A., Pereira, I. G., Gouveia, A. M. G., Pires, A. V., Facó, O., Farah, M. M., & Guimarães, M. P. S. L. P. M. (2014). Avaliação genética de caprinos da raça Saanen nascidos no Brasil de 1979 a 2009. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 66(4), 1179-1188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-6154
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-6154...
). Among the main body measurements used in goat selection there are: thoracic perimeter, body length, and scrotal circumference. These body measurements not only are goat herd data, but also demonstrate variations on development and production potential of the animals.

In addition, selection of future superior Bucks is based on testis characteristics evaluations. Scrotal circumference, also named scrotal perimeter, shows significant correlation with animal body weight (Santiago-Miramontes et al., 2018Santiago-Miramontes, A., Luna, X., Cruz, E., Contreras, V., Ángel, O., & Véliz-Deras, F. (2018). PSXV-8 Nutritional supplementation + testosterone treatment, increases, body weight, sexual odor, scrotal circumference and libido in male goats during sexual resting. Journal of Animal Science, 96(3), 479-480. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky404.1047
https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky404.1047...
). This measurement is applied in genetic evaluations in different animal species and breeds. Therefore, scrotal circumference is a reliable measurement to select young male goats for reproduction. In this context, Hannan et al. (2017Hannan, M. A., Kawate, N., Fukami, Y., Weerakoon, W. W. P. N., Büllesbach, E. E., Inaba, T., & Tamada, H. (2017). Changes of plasma concentrations of insulin-like peptide 3 and testosterone, and their association with scrotal circumference during pubertal development in male goats. Theriogenology, 92(1), 51-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.01.009
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology...
) verified that scrotal circumference is positively correlated with sperm parameters and other reproductive factors. In breeding programs for goats in Brazil, scrotal circumference is evaluated and used to establish Expected Progeny Difference for this parameter (Lobo, Facó, Bezerra, & Villela, 2010Lobo, R. N., Facó, O., Bezerra, A. M. O. L., & Villela, L. C. V. (2010). Brazilian goat breeding programs. Small Ruminant Research , 89(2-3), 149-154, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2009.12.038
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.20...
).

In view of the above, this study aims to evaluate the correlations between body measurements and body weight in young male goats of Saanen and Boer breeds.

Material and methods

The current study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Animal Use (CEUA/IZ/UFRRJ) under protocol number 003-03-2018. The study was developed in Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, at 22º44'38" S latitude, 43º42'27" W longitude and altitude of 26 meters. The region climate under Köppen classification is Aw (Da Silva, Lopes, & Carvalho, 2013Da Silva, D. G., Lopes, R. P., & Carvalho, D. F. (2013). Caracterização do potencial eólico em Seropédica (RJ). Revista Energia na Agricultura, 28(3), 185-192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17224/EnergAgric.2013v28n3p 185-192
https://doi.org/10.17224/EnergAgric.2013...
).

Thirty eight young male Saanen goats and twenty four young male Boer goats with ages around 7.2 ± 2.0 months were used. All the animals were kept housed in collective stalls, with area of 0.6 m2/animal, in a goat facility with slatted floor. All the young goats received a diet with 80% of dry matter (%DM) from Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) and 20%DM of concentrated meal, containing 14%DM of crude protein (CP) based on crushed corn, soybean meal and minerals. The water and mineral salt access were given ad libitum. The commercial mineral salt used contained per kilogram: Ca 210 g, Co 22 mg, Cu 450 mg, S 20 g, F 800 mg, P 80 mg, I 149 mg, Mg 20 g, Mn 1500 mg, Se 12 mg, Zn 3 g, Vit. A 150.000 UI and Vit. D3 30.000 UI.

All the goats were evaluated in regards to thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), body volume (BV), body compacity (BC), scrotal circumference (SC), and body weight (BW). The measurements of the thoracic perimeter, body length and scrotal circumference were obtained using a tape measure, in centimeters (cm), with the animals restrained in standing position.

Thoracic perimeter was estimated with the tape around the chest just behind scapulohumeral joint. Body length was measured from greater humeral tuberosity to lesser ischial tuberosity (Mello & Schmidt, 2008Mello, F. A. de., & Schmidt, V. (2008). Caracterização biométrica de caprinos Anglo-nubianos nascidos no Brasil, no período de 1993 a 2001. Archivos de Zootecnia, 57(220), 525-535.). The product from body length (BL) and thoracic perimeter (TP) was considered the body volume:

(BV = TP.BL) (Koritiaki et al., 2013Koritiaki, N. A., Ribeiro, E. L. A., Mizubuti, I. Y., Silva, L. D. F., Barbosa, M. A. A. F., Bumbieris Junior, V. H., & Constantino, C. (2013). Influence of environmental factors on ponderal performance and morphometric characteristics of lambs of different genetic groups from birth to weaning. Brazilian Journal of Animal Sciences, 42(7), 463-470. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982013000700001
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-3598201300...
).

Body compacity (BC) was calculated by dividing body weight (BW) by body length (BL):

(BC = BW.BL -1) (Moreno et al., 2010Moreno, G. M. B., Silva Sobrinho, A. G., Leão, A. G., Oliveira, R. V., Yokoo, M. J. I., Souza Júnior, S. C., & Perez, H. L. (2010). Características morfológicas “in vivo” e da carcaça de cordeiros terminados em confinamento e suas correlações. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal, 11(3), 888-902.).

Additionally, scrotal circumference was obtained around the equatorial region of the scrotum (Ahmed, Al-Ghalban, Tabbaa, & Kridli 2004Ahmed, M., Al-Ghalban, M. J., Tabbaa, R., & Kridli, T. (2004). Factors affecting semen characteristics and scrotal circumference in Damascus bucks. Small Ruminant Research, 53(1-2), 141-149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2003.10.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.20...
). The animals were weighed after a 12h fasting period in a mechanic scale (Açores®, 602 SM model, Cambé,Paraná State, Brazil).

Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 5 software (GraphPad Software®). Data normality was determined by DÁgostino-Pearson test. Pearson coefficient correlations were calculated between body weight and body measurements: body length, thoracic perimeter, body volume, body compacity and scrotal circumference. The comparison of the parameters: body weight, body length, thoracic perimeter, body volume, body compacity and scrotal circumference between the breeds was performed by t test. Besides, the comparison between coefficient correlations (r) in each breed was performed through Fisher test. Among the body measurements thoracic perimeter, body length, scrotal circumference and body volume, the one with the highest coefficient of correlation (r) will be selected to show its linear equation and a table with values to estimate body weight based on its regression linear analysis. In the case of non-significant difference among the highest coefficient correlations, it will be presented only the data from the simplest measure to be performed. The level of significance was lower than 0.05.

Results and discussion

In the current study, body measurements and their correlations with body weight were evaluated in young male goats of Saanen and Boer breed. The analysis of correlations between body measures and body weight helps in criteria establishment for selection of young animals (Pacheco, Quirino, Pinheiro, & Almeida, 2008Pacheco, A., Quirino, C. R., Pinheiro, O. L. V. M., & Almeida, J. V. C. (2008). Medidas morfométricas de touros jovens e adultos da raça Guzerá. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal , 9(3), 426-435.). The data related to body weight, thoracic perimeter, body length, body volume, body compacity and scrotal circumference of young male goats are illustrated in Table 1. Our biometric results are close to other studies by Saanen (Yanez et al., 2004Yáñez, E. A., Resende, K. T. de., Ferreira, A. C. D., Medeiros, A. N., Sobrinho, A. G., & Filho, J. M. P. (2004). Utilização de medidas biométricas para predizer características da carcaça de cabritos Saanen. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia , 33(6), 1564-1572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982004000600024
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-3598200400...
; Silva et al., 2018Silva, L. S., Santos, D. S., Silva, E. R., Silva, J. K. B., Silva, G. A., Vieira, G. N., & Moreno, G. M. B. (2018). Desenvolvimento e zoometria de caprinos leiteiros jovens de diferentes grupos genéticos. Pubvet , 12(2), 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v12n2a27.1-9
https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v12n2a27...
) and Boer (Abd-Allah et al., 2009Abd-Allah, S., Salman, F. M., Shoukry, M. M., Abd-El Rahman, H. H., Mohamend, M. I., & Abedo, A. A. (2019). Study of some morphological characteristics of boer goat raised in egypt. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 7(10), 88-897. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2019/7.10.888.897
https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/20...
; Bezerra et al., 2009Bezerra, F. Q. G., Aguiar Filho, C. R., Freitas Neto, L. M., Santos Junior, E. R., Chaves, R. M., Azevedo, E. M. P., ... Oliveira, M. A. L. (2009). Body weight, scrotal circumference and testosterone concentration in young Boear goat males born during dry or rainy seasons. South African Journal of Animal Science, 39(4), 301-306. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v39i4.51123
https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v39i4.5112...
), which indicated a satisfactory body development during the study.

Young male Boer goat presented superior body weight (22.99 ± 0.75 vs 27.01 ± 1.48) and body compacity (0.37 ± 0.01 vs 0.43 ± 0.01) than Saanen goats (p < 0.01) (Table 1).

The comparison among coefficient of correlations of body measurements and body weight is presented in Table 2. In the current study, it was not observed differences related to coefficient of correlations between the goat breeds (Table 2). The correlation coefficient between scrotal circumference and body weight was the lowest (p < 0.05) (Table 2).

Table 1
Body measurements of young male goats of Saanen and Boer breeds.
Table 2
Correlations between body measurements with body weight in male young goats of Saanen and Boer breeds.

A significant positive correlation between thoracic perimeter and body weight was observed (r = 0.90) (p < 0.01). Other previous studies also demonstrated that thoracic perimeter is one of the most body measurements correlated with body weight, not only in goats (Chacón-Hernández & Boschini-Figueroa, 2017Chacón-Hernández, P., & Boschini-Figueroa, C. (2017). Estimated weight on goats with a commercial weighing tape and thoracic perimeter. Mesoamerican Agronomy, 28(1), 229-236. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15517/am.v28i1.21611
https://doi.org/10.15517/am.v28i1.21611...
), but also in other species, like sheep (Costa Junior et al., 2006Costa Júnior, G. S., Campelo, J. E. G., Azevêdo, D. M. M. R., Martins Filho, R., Cavalcante, R. R., Lopes, J. B., & Oliveira, M. E. (2006). Caracterização morfométrica de ovinos da raça Santa Inês criados nas microrregiões de Teresina e Campo Maior, Piauí. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 35(6), 2260-2267. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982006000800009
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-3598200600...
), bulls (Vaz et al., 2016Vaz, R. Z., Restle, J., Pacheco, P. S., Vaz, F. N., Muehlmann, L., Filho, D. A., & Vaz, M. B. (2016). Genetic group and heterosis on morphometric measurements during the growth of male beef cattle. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 37(4), 2759-2772. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n4Supl1p2759
https://doi.org/doi.org/10.5433/1679-035...
), and buffalos (Almaguer, Font, Cabrera, & Arias, 2017Almaguer, Y., Font, H., Cabrera, S., & Arias, Y. (2017). Relationship between body and testicular measurements in young buffalo bulls in Cuba. Revista Colombiana de Ciências Pecuárias, 30(2), 138-146. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rccp.v30n2a05
https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rccp.v30n2...
). Similarly to thoracic perimeter, body length was also positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.081) (p < 0.01). In a sheep study, a high positive correlation showed the association between these two measurements (Dantas et al., 2016Dantas, A., Oliveira, R. A., Carrega, M. F. C. S., Ruediger, F. R., Castilho, A. M., & Oba, E. (2016). Efeito do plano nutricional sobre as medidas biométricas de cordeiras durante a fase de crescimento. Colloquium Agrariae, 12(2), 12-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5747/ca.2016.v12.n2.a135
https://doi.org/10.5747/ca.2016.v12.n2.a...
). Nevertheless, in this study using regression equations for body weight estimation based on biometric measurements, it was concluded that body length was less efficient than thoracic perimeter. McGregor (2017McGregor, B. A. (2017). Relationships between live weight, body condition, dimensional and ultrasound scanning measurements and carcass attributes in adult Angora goats. Small Ruminant Research , 147, 8-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.11.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.20...
) working with Angora goats, observed that for each body weight increase of 1 kg, the thoracic perimeter also increased around 1 cm, also showing a high correlation between these two parameters. In the current study, a similar variation was verified based on the linear equation of the positive correlation between body weight and thoracic perimeter (PV = 1.0077. PT - 40.488) (p < 0.01).

Regarding scrotal circumference, we also observed a significant positive correlation with the body weight (r = 0.66) (p < 0.01). However, this correlation presented the lowest coefficient correlation. Other previous studies of sheep (Pires et al., 2019Pires, L. C., Machado, T. M., Fonseca, J. D., Fonseca, J. F., Pile, E., & Brandão, F. Z. (2019). Caracterização Biométrica dos Caprinos da República de Cabo Verde. Archivos de Zootecnia , 68(263), 384-394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21071/az.v68i263.4197
https://doi.org/10.21071/az.v68i263.4197...
) and goat (Almeida et al., 2010Almeida, M. M., Machado Júnior, A. A. N., Ambrósio, C. E., Menezes, D. J. A., Righi, D. A., Nascimento, I. M. R., & Carvalho, M. A. M. (2010). Influência do grau de bipartição escrotal sobre parâmetros reprodutivos de caprinos. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 30(4), 345-350. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2010000400011
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X201000...
) also observed associations between gonadal size and body weight. Scrotal circumference is one the body measurements used to early male selection for reproduction in small ruminants. Moreover, it is considered an efficient indicator of testis size and potential of sperm production (Dayenoff, Dri, Macario, & Poblete, 2017Dayenoff, P., Dri, P., Macario, J., & Poblete, R. (2017). Variación estacional de la circunferência escrotal en machos caprino criollo, en el sur de Mendoza. Ciencia Veterinaria, 19(2), 39-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19137/cienvet-20171923
https://doi.org/10.19137/cienvet-2017192...
).

Furthermore, Kerketta et al. (2015Kerketta, S., Singh, M., Patel, B. H. M., Dutt, T., Upadhyay, D., Bharti, D. U., & Kamal, R. (2015). Relationships between age, body measurements, testicular measurements and total ejaculation of semen in local goat of Rohilkhand region. Small Ruminant Research , 130, 193-196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.07.006
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.20...
) observed not only positive correlation of scrotal circumference with body weight, but also with libido behavioral, measured by number of mounts by time. In goats, right after birth, testicles are already present in the scrotum and after puberty, around four months of age, their development increase (He, Zhao, Dai, Qiao, & Yang, 2019He, Q., Zhao, Z., Dai, Z., Qiao, L., & Yang, T. (2019). Transcriptome sequencing analysis of goat testicular tissue. Indian Journal Animal Health, 58(1), 45-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36062/ijah.58.1.2019.45-62
https://doi.org/10.36062/ijah.58.1.2019....
).

Body compacity was the biometric measure with the highest correlation with body weight (r = 0.95) (p < 0.01). Confirming our results, Oliveira et al. (2012Oliveira, R. M., Osório, J. C. S., Borba, M. F. S., Osório, M. T. M., Trindade, J. P. P., Martins, L. S., & Lehmen, R. I. (2012). Características in vivo e componentes corporais de cabritos naturalizados do Alto Camaquã, Brasil. Archivos de Zootecnia , 61(233), 43-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922012000100005
https://doi.org/10.4321/S0004-0592201200...
) also observed that fasting body weight is the best parameter to estimate goat body compacity. The greater the body compacity, the higher the muscle and fat development by length unit are. This measurement is an accurate animal conformation index (Yáñez et al., 2004Yáñez, E. A., Resende, K. T. de., Ferreira, A. C. D., Medeiros, A. N., Sobrinho, A. G., & Filho, J. M. P. (2004). Utilização de medidas biométricas para predizer características da carcaça de cabritos Saanen. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia , 33(6), 1564-1572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982004000600024
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-3598200400...
). The meat Boer goats presented a higher body compacity (0.43 ± 0.01 vs 0.37 ± 0.01) than the dairy Saanen goats (p < 0.01).

Sousa et al. (2009Sousa, W. H. de., Brito, E. A., Medeiros, A. N., Cartaxo, F. Q., Cezar, M. F., & Cunha, M. G. G. (2009). Características morfométricas e de carcaça de cabritos e cordeiros terminados em confinamento. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia , 38(7), 1340-1346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982009000700025
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-3598200900...
), evaluating morphometric characteristics in housed young goats, verified that cross Boer goats presented superior body compacity than Nubian goats. This superiority is probably related to meat production genotypes. The average compacity values of Boer breed observed in the current study (0.43 ± 0.01 kg cm-1) is similar with the studies of Moreno et al. (2010Moreno, G. M. B., Silva Sobrinho, A. G., Leão, A. G., Oliveira, R. V., Yokoo, M. J. I., Souza Júnior, S. C., & Perez, H. L. (2010). Características morfológicas “in vivo” e da carcaça de cordeiros terminados em confinamento e suas correlações. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal, 11(3), 888-902.) and Pinheiro, Silva Sobrinho, Marques, and Yamamoto (2007Pinheiro, R. S. B., Silva Sobrinho, A. G., Marques, C. A. T., & Yamamoto, S. M. (2007). Biometria in vivo e da carcaça de cordeiros confinados. Archivos de Zootecnia , 56(216), 955-958.), which verified 0.56 and 0.50 kg cm-1, respectively. Finally, body compacity is a better index for carcass quality than body weight only (Ferreira et al., 2016Ferreira, R. C., Cézar, M. F., Sousa, W. H., Cunha, M. G. G., Cordão, M. A., & Nóbrega, G. H. (2016). Biometria, morfometria e composição regional da carcaça de caprinos e ovinos de diferentes genótipos. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias, 11(3), 253-258. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v11i3a5384
https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v11i3a53...
).

Body volume also presented a significant positive correlation with body weight achieving a coefficient of correlation of 0.90, like thoracic parameter. In Angora goats, McGregor (2017McGregor, B. A. (2017). Relationships between live weight, body condition, dimensional and ultrasound scanning measurements and carcass attributes in adult Angora goats. Small Ruminant Research , 147, 8-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.11.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.20...
) determined that the most accurate biometric measure to predict body and carcass weights was the body volume. Nevertheless, the author added that in that prediction, body volume was superior than thoracic perimeter because it represents the product of two parameters: body volume and thoracic perimeter. It was also confirmed by Birteeb, Danquah, and Salifu (2015Birteeb, P. T., Danquah, B. A., & Salifu, A. R. S. (2015). Growth performance of West African dwarf goats reared in the transitional zone of Ghana. Asian Journal of Animal Sciences, 9(6), 370-378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ajas.2015.370.378
https://doi.org/10.3923/ajas.2015.370.37...
), that determined by equations that body length and thoracic perimeter when associated were superior to estimate body weight than body length or thoracic perimeter, individually.

The current study has the perspective to estimate body weight in young goat male through body measurements. Considering goat production relevance to rural familiar producers and economic limitations by those producers to buy small ruminant scales, the use of tape measures to estimate weight need to be highlighted. In this context, thoracic perimeter was the most accurate and easiest measure to be used as a body weight predictor, as also observed in Saanen goats by Teixeira, Barros, Araujo and Villaroel, (2000Teixeira, M. P. B., Barros, N. N., Araujo, A. M. de., & Villaroel, A. S. (2000). Relação entre Medidas Corporais e Peso Vivo em Caprinos das Raças Saanen e Anglo-Nubiana. Revista Científica de Produção Animal, 2(2), 178-189.). The linear equation from regression analysis showing the linear relation between thoracic perimeter and body weight was BW= 1.0077.TP - 40.488. Based on this equation, a table was organized to estimate body weight through thoracic perimeter measurements in young male goats weighing from 14 to 41 kilograms (Table 3). Data like these can be used to produce national goats weight tapes by thoracic perimeter measure. In addition, this tape will be useful to evaluate weight gain during growing phase of slaughter young goats, because it includes usual goat slaughter weights of Brazil.

Lastly, studies based on animal body biometrics are also useful as base for technology development focused on body weight estimation through digital image analysis (Tasdemir, Urkmez, & Inal, 2011Tasdemir, S., Urkmez, A., & Inal, S. (2011). Determination of body measurements on the Holstein cows using image analysis and estimation of live weight with regression analysis. Computers and Eletronics in Agriculture , 76(2), 189-197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2011.02.001
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2011.02...
). Moreover, body weight estimation using digital image analysis is less invasive and able to be automated (Cominotte et al., 2019Cominotte, A., Fernandes, A. F. A., Fernandes, A. F. A., Dorea, J. R. R., Rosa, G. J. M., Ladeira, M. M., ... Machado Neto, O. R. (2019). Automated computer vision system to predict body weight and average daily gain in beef cattle during growing and finishing phases. Livestock Science, 232, 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103904
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.10...
). Nonetheless, although this method has been improved in cattle (Le Cozler et al., 2019Le Cozler, Y., Allain, C., Xavier, C., Depuille, L., Caillot, A., Delouard, J. M., … Faverdin, P. (2019). Volume and surface área of Holstein dairy cows calculated from complete 3D shapes acquired using a high-precision scanning system: Interest for body weight estimation. Computers and Eletronics in Agriculture, 165, 1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2019.104977
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2019.10...
), it is still undervalued in goats. Mobile applications capable of estimating body weight from pictures taken by smartphones can provide the diffusion of this technique for small goat producers in the future.

Table 3
Body weight estimation based on thoracic perimeter of young male goats.

Conclusion

Thoracic perimeter, body length, body volume, body compacity and scrotal circumference are correlated with body weight in male young goats. Scrotal circumference has the lowest correlation with body weight. Thoracic perimeter was the main measure of body weight predictor, considering efficiency and practical aspects.

Acknowledgements

The Authors thanks the support from the Scientific Initiation Program of Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (PIBIC-UFRRJ)

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    19 Nov 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    31 Mar 2020
  • Accepted
    07 July 2020
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