The accuracy of prediction of body weight from body measurements in beef cattle

Abstract. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of prediction of body weight from body measurements in beef cattle. Wither height, chest girth, body length, chest depth, hip width and hip height measurements were obtained from Holstein, Brown Swiss and crossbred (n=140). Determination coefficients (R²) of regression equation that included all body measurements were higher in Brown Swiss and crossbred than Holstein (92.2, 95.0 and 68.2 %, respectively). However, it was found that chest girth was the best parameter of all for prediction of body weight in Brown Swiss (R²=91.1 %) and crossbred cattle (R²=88.8 %) in comparison to Holstein (R²=60.7 %). According to these results, the body weight estimation of Brown Swiss and crossbred cattle using the body measurements produced higher prediction accuracies than Holstein but chest girth was the best parameter to prediction of body weight among all body measurements. However, the prediction accuracy of prediction of body weight from body measurements and also chest girth was decreased when the animals frame size was increased.