Path Analysis for Determination of Relationships between Some Body Measurements and Live Weight of German Fawn x Hair Crossbred Kids

Abstract

This paper investigated direct, indirect and total effects of some body measurements on live weights of German Farm x Hair crossbred kids using path analysis. For this aim, used data were live weight (LW), chest girth (CG), height at withers (HW), front rump width (FR) and body length (BL) measurements taken from totally 40 German Farm x Hair crossbred kids at weaning period. The results indicated that CG, HW, FR and BL had statistically important effects on LW of the kids. It was also determined that both direct and total effects of CG on LW were higher than the effects of HW, FR and BL, although the indirect effect of BL on LW was the highest. Consequently, with the aim of increasing carcass yield per animal in slaughtering periods, the chest girth measurements should be used to predict the live weight of the German Farm x Hair crossbred kids.