Trop Anim Health Prod (2013) 45:397–403
DOI 10.1007/s11250-012-0229-7
REGULAR ARTICLE
Estimation of mature live weight using some body
measurements in Karya sheep
Onur Yilmaz & Ibrahim Cemal & Orhan Karaca
Accepted: 10 July 2012 / Published online: 25 July 2012
# Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
Abstract The aim of this study was to determine models
which will be used for the estimation of adult live weights
based on some body measurements using multiple regres-
sion model in Karya sheep of different age groups. Animal
material of the study consisted of a total of 215 Karya sheep.
Least squares means for live weight, body length, rump
height, withers height, back height, chest depth, chest girth,
and chest width of Karya sheep in Adnan Menderes
University Group Sheep Breeding Program elite flock and
breeder flocks were found as 47.24 kg, 67.08, 68.29, 68.58,
66.97, 30.04, 93.24, and 18.29 cm, respectively. Karya ewes
were put into five categories according to ages (2–6 years).
High positive phenotypic correlation coefficients were ob-
served between live weight and body measurements of
animals in different age groups (2–6 years). Among the
formed multiple regression models, the highest coeffi-
cients of determination (R2) were obtained from the
models formed for body length or body length and
chest girth together (R2 00.79, R2 00.87). It is concluded
that live weight of Karya sheep can be estimated with a
high accuracy using some body measurements and sta-
tistical methods.
Keywords Karya . Sheep . Live weight estimation . Body
measurements . Regression . Live weight
Introduction
Karya sheep, which have high reproductive performance
and milk yield, are a synthetic sheep genotype in Western
O. Yilmaz (*) : I. Cemal : O. Karaca
Department of Animal of Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Adnan
Menderes University,
Aydin, Turkey
e-mail: oyilmaz@adu.edu.tr
Anatolia developed by the farmers in the past 20- to 30-year
period through crossing as a result of the intensification
tendency experienced in Anatolia in recent years. Karya
sheep are rapidly being widespread in the region.
Although Sakiz breed which has a high fertility and
Kivircik breed with a meat efficiency and quality constitute
the principle structure of the genotype, some local breeds
made a limited contribution. Adnan Menderes University
Group Sheep Breeding Program (ADU-GKYP) was initiat-
ed in 1994 with the aim of conducting basic research on the
identification of performances in farm conditions of Karya
sheep, which are quite common in some provinces, and
developing a format for the available material in terms of
morphological and yield characteristics by taking market
and farmer's demands into account. At first, the studies
consisted of a total of 1,500 animals and were limited to
Aydın Province. Within the scope of “National Genetic
Improvement Project for Small Ruminants at Breeders'
Conditions” project developed by the General Directorate
of Agricultural Research and Policies (GDAR) which
would last for 5 years for its first stage, a sub-project
titled “Karya Sheep Development Project” was imple-
mented in Aydın in 2006. The studies were then extend-
ed to include a total of 12,600 animals in Aydın and
Denizli Provinces, consisting of 6,300 animals in each
province. The principal originality of the study was that
a dynamic structure was initiated directly in farm con-
ditions, which is the target population (Cemal et al.
2009; Karaca et al. 2009a; Karaca et al. 2009b; Yilmaz
et al. 2009). Biometric measurements are used to define
various characteristics of animals. Body measurements
and live weight are the most commonly used criteria
for scientific research and selection applications. Live
weight and growth characteristics of animals are impor-
tant for livestock enterprises, and therefore, it is of great
importance to determine these parameters accurately.
398
In Turkey, sheep breeding is generally performed in
extensive conditions (Yalçın 1986; Akçapınar 1994;
Kaymakci and Sonmez 1996). Particularly, in these produc-
tion conditions, live weights of animals can only be deter-
mined in livestock farms with appropriate infrastructure. For
this reason, live weight parameter, which is an important
selection criterion, cannot be effectively used at an adequate
level. There is a balanced relationship between body meas-
urements and live weight in animals. Previous studies also
reported significant phenotypic correlation values between
live weight and body measurements (Özbey et al. 2000;
Şeker and Kul 2000; Fourie et al. 2002; Afolayan et al.
2006; Pesmen and Yardimci 2008; Karaca et al. 2009a).
Conducting studies on body measurements is of great
importance for the identification of breeds. Previous studies
showed that body weights were affected by factors such as
genotype, gender, type of birth, feeding type, age, season of
birth, and dam age (Özcan et al. 1974; Gökdal et al. 2000;
Pesmen and Yardimci 2008). On the contrary, Kaymakçı et
al. (2004) reported that age had a statistically insignificant
effect on body characteristics.
The parameters to determine body characteristics of
sheep are body length, withers height, rump height, chest
girth, back height, chest depth, head length, width of fore-
head, ear length, and shin circumference. In estimation of
live weight from body measurements, different statistical
methods are used according to the aim of the study and
the structure of obtained data. Estimations performed using
these methods are more practical, faster, easily, and eco-
nomic (Nsoso et al. 2003).
It was reported that live weight of an animal was not
directly a linear function of age (Islam et al. 1994;
Kaymakçı et al. 2004; Karaca et al. 2009a). However, it
was reported that linear regression models can be developed
to estimate live weights of animals from different age
groups and that using these models would yield advanta-
geous results (Baffour-Awuah et al. 2000; Riva et al. 2004;
Thiruvenkadan 2005; Afolayan et al. 2006; Pesmen and
Yardimci 2008; Sowande and Sobola 2008; Kılıç and
Özbeyaz 2010). The aim of this study was to estimate live
Fig. 1 Karya ewe showing the
exact points at which the body
measurements were taken (A-B
withers height; C-D back
height; E-F body length; G-H
rump height; I-J chest girth; K-
L chest depth; M-N chest width)
Trop Anim Health Prod (2013) 45:397–403
weights of Karya sheep based on some body measurements
in different age groups using multiple regression analysis.
Materials and methods
Animal material of the study consisted of a total of 215
Karya sheep. Of these sheep, 122 were found in flocks in
Aydın and Denizli Provinces under the Karya Sheep
Development Project within the scope of National Genetic
Improvement Project for Small Ruminants at Breeders'
Conditions project initiated by the General Directorate of
GDAR. On the other hand, 93 sheep were found in the elite
flock of ADU-GKYP. Karya ewes were categorized into
five groups according to their ages. Numbers of ewes in
age categories of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 years were 36, 43, 40, 47,
and 49 heads, respectively.
Body measurements and live weights of the sheep in
ADU-GKYP elite flock and breeder flocks were determined
in mating period. Live weights of the sheep were measured
by a digital scale with 50-g sensitivity. Rump height (RH),
withers height (WH), back height (BH), chest depth (CD),
chest width (CW), and body length (BL) measurements
were made using a measurement stick. Chest girth (CG)
measurements were taken with a tape measure (Fig. 1).
The univariate procedure of SAS (1999) statistical pack-
age program was used to check the normality of the data.
The result of this analysis showed that the data for all the
measured characteristics were normally distributed.
Afterwards, the GLM procedure of same software was used
to make variance analyses and to obtain least squares means
for the investigated characteristics. Mathematical model
used for analysis of variance is presented below:
Y ijk ¼ μþai þbj þeijk
Yijk ¼ Observations for live weight and body measurements
μ ¼ Overall mean of the trait
ai ¼ Fixed effect of age ði ¼ 2; 3; 4; 5; 6Þ
bj ¼ Fixed effect flock ðj ¼ elite; farmers0 flockÞ
eijk ¼ Independent and random error
Trop Anim Health Prod (2013) 45:397–403 399

Table 1 Basic statistics on live weight and body measurements Results

Variable N Mean±SE CV (%) Minimum Maximum
Basic statistics for live weight and investigated body measure-
LW (kg) 215 47.79±0.661 20.26 26.40 82.80 ments (Table 1) show that there was a greater variance be-
CW (cm) 215 17.84±0.316 25.99 8 27 tween animals in terms of live weight (20.26 %), chest width
RH (cm) 215 68.18±0.408 8.78 58 88 (25.99 %), and chest depth (16.19 %) when compared to other
WH (cm) 215 68.42±0.407 8.72 54 88 characteristics. Criteria for determining body structure, which
BH (cm) 215 66.81±0.440 9.66 39 87 is among morphological characteristics of sheep, were evalu-
CD (cm) 215 29.62±0.327 16.19 17 37.5 ated. Least squares means and standard deviations are pre-
CG (cm) 215 93.09±0.438 6.9 76 111 sented in Table 2.
BL (cm) 215 66.89±0.519 11.38 51 86 It is understood from Table 2 that although live weight
was lower in elite flocks when compared to farmer flocks,
LW live weight, CW chest width, RH rump height, WH withers height, body measurements were higher than those in farmer flocks.
BH back height, CD chest depth, CG chest girth, BL body length
It was found that age caused a significant difference for
body measurements (P<0.01). All body measurements ex-
Estimation equations of live weights with multiple linear
cluding rump height, back height, and body length signifi-
regression analysis using some body measurements accord- cantly varied according to flocks (P<0.01, P<0.05). There
ing to age groups were obtained by using stepwise multiple was a significant difference between ages in terms of all
regression procedure in SAS (1999). Linear regression mod-
body measurements analyzed in the study (P < 0.01).
el given below was used for estimation equations. Regression between live weights in the measurement of all
body characteristics was found to be statistically significant
Ybi ¼ b
b0 þ b
b i xi (P<0.01).
b
b 0 ¼ Constant Phenotypic correlation coefficients between live weights
b
b i ¼ Regression coefficient and body characteristics are presented in Table 3. A general
xi ¼ Body measurements evaluation shows that there were high positive phenotypic
x1 ¼ BL correlations between live weight and body measurements in
x2 ¼ CG the study. Analysis of correlation coefficients between live
x3 ¼ CW weight and body measurements according to age groups
x4 ¼ RH showed that highest coefficients were obtained in age 2. It
x5 ¼ WH was also found that correlation coefficients between live
x6 ¼ BH weights (LW) and CW and LW and CD were insignificant
x7 ¼ CD (P<0.05) for 4-year-old animals. In addition, correlation

Table 2 Least squares means and standard errors for body measurements

N LW CW RH WH BH CD CG BL
Mean±SE Mean±SE Mean±SE Mean±SE Mean±SE Mean±SE Mean±SE Mean±SE

Flock type P00.0000 P00.000 P00.796 P00.015 P00.135 P00.000 P00.000 P00.076
Elite 93 43.86±0.996 21.15±0.273 68.37±0.447 69.39±0.473 67.49±0.502 33.03±0.319 95.03±0.443 67.78±0.571
Farmers' flock 122 50.62±0.851 15.43±0.231 68.21±0.378 67.78±0.400 66.45±0.425 27.05±0.270 91.46±0.374 66.38±0.483
Age P00.026 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000
2 36 48.43±1.530 20.65±0.405 72.37±0.662 71.81±0.702 71.02±0.745 31.71±0.473 90.70±0.656 71.43±0.847
3 43 45.27±1.462 17.72±0.389 66.33±0.637 66.47±0.675 65.46±0.717 29.35±0.455 92.61±0.631 65.33±0.814
4 40 44.48±1.476 16.91±0.395 66.05±0.646 66.67±0.685 64.36±0.727 28.57±0.461 95.35±0.640 64.05±0.826
5 47 47.51±1.339 17.76±0.354 68.22±0.579 68.75±0.614 66.94±0.652 29.83±0.414 93.40±0.574 67.59±0.741
6 49 50.52±1.327 18.44±0.355 68.46±0.580 69.22±0.614 67.08±0.653 30.74±0.414 94.15±0.575 67.00±0.742
Regression (linear) P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000 P00.000
LW 0.318±0.018 0.398±0.030 0.388±0.032 0.424±0.034 0.287±0.021 0.533±0.030 0.530±0.038
General 215 47.24±0.638 18.29±0.169 68.29±0.276 68.58±0.293 66.97±0.311 30.04±0.197 93.24±0.274 67.08±0.353

SE standard errors, LW live weight, CW chest width, RH rump height, WH withers height, BH back height, CD chest depth, CG chest girth, BL body length
400 Trop Anim Health Prod (2013) 45:397–403

coefficients obtained for 4-year-old animals were found to
be lower than other age groups.
Separate models were developed for each age group for
the estimation of live weight from body measurements and
coefficients of determination (R2) are presented in Table 4.
As understood from the table, R2 value was found as 0.76 in
the model which evaluated all ages together. Analysis of R2
values showed that the highest value was obtained from the
second model in age group 2. On the other hand, the lowest
value was obtained from the first model in age group 6.
Analysis of models in age group 2 showed that the
obtained R2 values were found to be higher than those in

Table 3 Phenotypic correlation

coefficients between live weight Age LW CW RH WH BH CD CG
and body measurements
CW 2 0.775**
3 0.673**
4 0.200, NS
5 0.528**
6 0.568**
General 0.516**
RH 2 0.826** 0.683**
3 0.692** 0.792**
4 0.431** 0.526**
5 0.582** 0.575**
6 0.759** 0.669**
General 0.666** 0.672**
WH 2 0.804** 0.648** 0.972**
3 0.645** 0.802** 0.929**
4 0.273* 0.511** 0.715**
5 0.443** 0.653** 0.852**
6 0.746** 0.701** 0.931**
General 0.619** 0.704** 0.923**
BH 2 0.853** 0.672 0.979** 0.976**
3 0.666** 0.791** 0.939** 0.958**
4 0.391** 0.610** 0.842** 0.773**
5 0.525** 0.655** 0.933** 0.940**
6 0.685** 0.577** 0.783** 0.719**
General 0.640** 0.674** 0.910** 0.890**
CD 2 0.761** 0.638** 0.661** 0.620** 0.649**
3 0.566** 0.934** 0.774** 0.804** 0.785**
4 0.097, NS 0.872** 0.518** 0.568** 0.606**
5 0.414** 0.882** 0.555** 0.697** 0.675**
6 0.394** 0.853** 0.665** 0.689** 0.537**
General 0.433** 0.893** 0.656** 0.712** 0.659**
CG 2 0.754** 0.833** 0.593** 0.582** 0.618** 0.632**
3 0.793** 0.514** 0.369** 0.387** 0.402** 0.417**
4 0.801** 0.413** 0.403** 0.303* 0.449** 0.349*
5 0.804** 0.449** 0.271* 0.196, NS 0.225, NS 0.306*
6 0.554** 0.640** 0.495** 0.490** 0.402** 0.460**
General 0.717** 0.463** 0.355** 0.357** 0.344** 0.383**
BL 2 0.886** 0.654** 0.873** 0.842** 0.869** 0.697** 0.582**
3 0.660** 0.866** 0.873** 0.859** 0.840** 0.815** 0.386**
LW live weight, CW chest width,
RH rump height, WH withers 4 0.285* 0.436** 0.481** 0.609** 0.59** 0.524** 0.414**
height, BH back height, CD 5 0.617** 0.624** 0.697** 0.765** 0.724** 0.609** 0.322*
chest depth, CG chest girth, BL 6 0.769** 0.726** 0.878** 0.911** 0.696** 0.680** 0.517**
body length, NS nonsignificant
General 0.673** 0.707** 0.842** 0.855** 0.803** 0.694** 0.373**
*P<0.05, **P<0.01
Trop Anim Health Prod (2013) 45:397–403 401

Table 4 Live weight estimation models in Karya sheep according to different age groups and their significance levels

Ages Models b
b0 β1 β2 β3 β4 β5 β6 β7 R2 P

2 Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x1 −39.55 1.23 0.79 –*

Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x1 þ b
b 2 x2 −78.59 0.94 0.66 0.87 –*
3 Yb1 b b
¼ b 0 þ b1 x2 −39.55 1.37 0.63 –*
Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x2 þ b
b 2 x4 −111.58 1.07 0.93 0.81 –*
4 Yb1 b b
¼ b 0 þ b1 x2 −43.98 0.96 0.64 –*
Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x2 þ b
b 2 x7 −41.62 1.05 −0.39 0.68 –*
Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x2 þ b
b 2 x7 þ b
b 3 x4 −72.67 0.96 −0.62 0.69 0.73 –*
5 Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x2 −50.30 1.05 0.65 –*
Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x2 þ b
b 2 x1 −76.10 0.88 0.62 0.79 –*
Yb1 ¼ b 0 þ b1 x2 þ b
b b b 2 x1 þ b
b 3 x4 −86.96 0.87 0.37 0.43 0.82 –*
Yb1 ¼ b 0 þ b1 x2 þ b 2 x1 þ b
b b b b 3 x4 þ b
b 4 x5 −78.07 0.83 0.55 0.81 −0.64 0.84 –*
6 Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x1 −13.76 0.93 0.59 –*
Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x1 þ b
b 2 x6 −20.90 0.68 0.35 0.64 –*
Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x1 þ b
b 2 x6 þ b
b 3 x7 −19.98 0.88 0.39 −0.54 0.68 –*
Yb1 ¼ b 0 þ b1 x1 þ b 2 x6 þ b 3 x7 þ b
b b b b b 4 x2 −48.74 0.78 0.37 −0.63 0.42 0.72 –*
General Yb1 ¼bb0 þ bb1 x1 þ b
b 2 x2 þ b
b 3 x3 þ b
b 4 x4 þ b
b 5 x5 þ b
b6 x6 þ b
b 7 x7 −80.99 0.49 0.85 −0.18 0.48 −0.29 0.28 −0.46 0.76 –*

BL body length, CG chest girth, CW chest width, RH rump height, WH withers height, BH back height, CD chest depth, x1 body length, x2 chest
girth, x3 chest width, x4 rump height, x5 withers height, x6 back height, x7 chest depth, bb0 constant, βi regression coefficient,R2 estimation power
*P<0.001

other age groups. It was indicated that BL (R2 00.79) or BL
with CG (R2 00.87) can be used in regression model.
Discussion
In parallel to the development of statistical methods, in addition
to basic or multiple nonlinear regression models, nonlinear
regression models are also used in estimation of live weight
from body measurements in several studies which were con-
ducted in cattle, sheep, and goat (Johansson and Hildeman
1954; Islam et al. 1994; Baffour-Awuah et al. 2000; Riva et
al. 2004; Thiruvenkadan 2005; Afolayan et al. 2006; Pesmen
and Yardimci 2008; Sowande and Sobola 2008).
Mean live weight and body characteristics values
obtained from the present study were similar to the values
in a previous study conducted for the same genotype
(Karaca et al. 2009a). Live weight was lower in the ADU-
GKYP elite flock than the other flocks. On the contrary, the
body measurements were higher in the elite flock than the
other flocks. This result indicated that skeletal structure of
Karya sheep, which were raised in the ADU-GKYP elite
flock, was larger than the other farms. But sheep in elite
flock could not reveal the real performance in terms of live
weight, due to poor management conditions. These results
are consistent with a previous study conducted for the same
genotype (Karaca et al. 2009a). Unlike previous studies on
this subject (Islam et al. 1994; Kaymakçı et al. 2004; Karaca
et al. 2009a), obtained data point out that body measure-
ments varied according to age.
Comparison of obtained data with those of sheep in
different region and different genotype showed that some
body measurements obtained in the present study were
higher (WH and BL) and some body measurements were
lower (CG, CD, and CW) than body measurements obtained
by Gökdal et al. (2000) on Karakas genotype. The obtained
data from this study were lower than the body measure-
ments obtained from Menemen genotype by Kaymakçı et al.
(2004). All body measurement and live weight in this study
were lower than the Chios breed (Yıldırır et al. 2011a, b). In
addition, some parameters such as LW, WH, CD, and CG in
this paper were higher than the Çine Çaparı and Kıvırcık
sheep breed that contributed to the formation of Karya. The
BL of Karya sheep was also lower than the Kıvırcık breed
(Karaca et al. 1999; Yıldırır et al. 2011b). Difference be-
tween the literature and the present study is natural due to
different body structure of various breeds.
There were high positive phenotypic correlations between
live weight and body measurements in the present study. This
result is consistent with previous studies in the literature
(Özbey et al. 2000; Şeker and Kul 2000; Fourie et al. 2002;
Afolayan et al. 2006; Pesmen and Yardimci 2008; Karaca et
al. 2009a). Almost all of the studies in the literature reported
high phenotypic correlation coefficients between chest girth
and live weight. It was reported in these studies that chest girth
was the most suitable parameter for the estimation of live
402
weight (Baffour-Awuah et al. 2000; Şeker and Kul 2000;
Fourie et al. 2002; Afolayan et al. 2006; Pesmen and
Yardimci 2008; Sowande and Sobola 2008; Çankaya et al.
2009; Cam et al. 2010). Phenotypic correlation coefficients for
live weight and chest girth we obtained in the present study
based on general and age-based evaluations are consistent
with the literature. High phenotypic correlation coefficients
between live weight and body measurements for all age
groups clearly reveal that these variables or their combinations
can be used for live weight estimation.
As understood from estimation models, R2 values in-
creased since R2 values obtained from other age groups were
relatively lower and more than one body characteristics
were added to the model. On the other hand, in field con-
ditions, taking more than one body characteristic increases
work load and limits effective use of time. For this reason,
models in age group 2 draw attention. Analysis of the results
obtained from the study indicated that the highest correla-
tion coefficients were observed in age group 2. The highest
R2 value was obtained from the model which was formed by
the combination of body length and chest girth in 2-year-old
animals. The majority of studies on sheep and goat revealed
that chest girth was the most suitable and reliable parameter
in estimation of live weight (Tellioğlu and Sabas 1976;
Öztürk et al. 1994; Mohammed and Amin 1996; Atta and
El Khidir 2004; Thiruvenkadan 2005; Pesmen and Yardimci
2008; Kılıç and Özbeyaz 2010). Previous studies
(Johansson and Hildeman 1954; Islam et al. 1994; Riva et
al. 2004) revealed that for the estimation of live weight,
using nonlinear regression models in a certain growth period
and the use of linear regression models in groups which will
be formed according to age intervals can yield positive
results. Although our results were consistent with the liter-
ature, according to multiple linear regression models, chest
girth and body length had the most significant effect on live
weight of Karya genotype.
A total of 18,900 heads Karya sheep is under inspection
with the National Genetic Improvement Project for Small
Ruminants at Breeders' Conditions project which was initi-
ated in 2006 and conducted in farm conditions by the
General Directorate for Agricultural Research and Policies.
Serious differences between the conditions of the breeders
included in the project cause significant losses of work force
and time for the realization of many applications such as live
weight measurements. In addition to this, procurement of
necessary tools and equipment for the realization of these
measurements brings another cost.
Unlike literature results, the combined use of body length
and chest girth in Karya sheep will be more suitable than the
single use of chest girth. We will save from work force and
time with the use of this method. The fact that measurement
of these two characteristics is easy in field conditions indi-
cates that they can be easily used for live weight estimation.
Trop Anim Health Prod (2013) 45:397–403
The models constructed with regression analysis for the
estimation of live weight were not generally applicable for
other breeds or localities in previous studies. In this respect,
studies which will be carried out for other breeds will be
advantageous for determining breed differences.
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