A Study of Relationship between Body Weight and Morphological Traits by using Path Analysis in South African Indigenous Sheep

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between five body measurement traits [hip height (HH), shoulder height (SH), body length (BL), heart girth (HG) and head width (HW)] and body weight of South African indigenous sheep (rams). For this purpose, data was collected from 96 rams of community farmers. Correlations and path analysis were executed for identifying the significant contribution of some morphological traits on body weight. Results of this study indicated that these body measurement traits especially body length and heart girth could be used as selection criteria for body weight in South African indigenous rams during breeding purposes.

Keywords: sheep, shoulder height, body weight, body length, heart girth, head width, morphometric