Live Body Weight Estimation in Small Ruminants-A Review

Abstract

Proper measurement of live body weight, which often is hard in the village settings due to lack of weighing scales, is a prerequisite for achieving so many lofty goals that are always associated with either medical or economic status of the animals. Under standard conditions, properly calibrated livestock scales are the most accurate and consistent method for determining body weight. Under farm conditions however, where scales and records may be absent, it may be difficult to know the weight of sheep and goats. Procedures for estimating weight of small ruminants in such conditions include the use of weight band, visual appraisal, and use of body linear measurements among others. All these measurements give estimates of the animals’ live body weights however, it has been shown in many studies that the heart girth is the most appropriate and confident parameter in live weight estimations for sheep and goats.