Assessment of the relationship between body weight and body measurements among Morkaraman, Tushin and Awassi sheeps with different ages

Veteriner Hekimler Derneği Dergisi, cilt.96, sa.1, ss.41-51, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)

This study aimed to identify morphological predictors of body weight in Morkaraman, Tushin, and Awassi sheep across different

age groups, providing valuable insights for effective livestock management and breeding programs. Data were collected from 260

Morkaraman, 109 Tushin, and 96 Awassi sheep, with body measurements including body length (BL), wither height (WH), chest

girth (CG), chest width (CW), chest depth (CD), rump width (RW), rump height (RH), ear length (EL), head length (HL), forehead

width (FW), cannon forelimb circumference (CFC), and cannon hindlimb circumference (CHC). Pearson correlation analysis was

conducted to assess relationships between body weight and these morphological traits. A multiple linear regression model was

developed using the backward stepwise elimination method to estimate body weight based on the collected measurements. The

results revealed that the Morkaraman breed and the 3-year-old age group had the highest average body weights. Among the

morphological traits, CG (r = 0.702), RH (r = 0.694), BL (r = 0.678), and WH (r = 0.677) exhibited the strongest correlations with

body weight. The final regression model identified CG, RW, RH, and HL as the most significant predictors, collectively

explaining approximately 78.3% of the variation in body weight. These findings underscore the importance of selecting specific

morphological traits for accurate body weight estimation in sheep. The results of this study have significant implications for sheep

farming, particularly in enhancing breeding, management, and selection strategies. By focusing on key morphological predictors,

livestock producers can improve decision-making processes, optimize resource allocation, and promote the overall productivity

and sustainability of sheep farming operations.