Morphometric Characterization and Prediction of Live Body Weight in Kenguri Sheep

Abstract

Kenguri sheep is an important meat-type genetic resource of northern Karnataka, yet breed-specific information linking morphometric traits and live body weight remains limited. The present study evaluated body measurements and their utility for predicting live body weight in Kenguri sheep under field-oriented conditions. Data were recorded from 150 sheep classified into three age groups: 0–6, 6–12 and more than 12 months, comprising both males and females. Live body weight, body length (BL), heart girth (HG), paunch girth (PG), height at withers (HW) were recorded using standard measurement procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, general linear model, correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression. Mean live body weight increased markedly with age and was consistently higher in males. Mean male and female body weights were 12.27 ± 1.09 and 9.40 ± 0.96 kg at 0–6 months, 27.57 ± 0.75 and 20.05 ± 0.78 kg at 6–12 months, and 46.20 ± 0.46 and 32.04 ± 0.55 kg above 12 months, respectively. Age-specific multiple regression models explained 78.4%, 59.0% and 54.8% of the variation in body weight in the three age groups, respectively. The findings demonstrate that simple morphometric measurements can provide a practical alternative for estimating live weight where weighing equipment is unavailable. Such breed-specific prediction equations can support field-level decisions on drug dosing, feeding, growth monitoring, marketing and selection.