Path Analysis for Body Measurements on Body Weight of Saanen Kids

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the direct, indirect and total effects of some body measurements on body weight of Saanen kids by using path analysis. For this aim, relationship between body weight (BW) and four morpho-biometrical traits [chest girth (CG), height at withers (HW), height at sacrum (HS) and body length (BL)] were studied in 75 Saanen kids at one month of age using path analysis. However HW trait was excluded from analyze because of its multicollinearity with HS. The effects of CG, HS and BL on BW were found statistically significant. BL was found as variable with highest indirect effect (0.521) on BW. The direct effect of CG was higher than HS and BL. The total effect of BL was higher than those of HS and CG. These results showed that chest girth could be used to estimate the body weight of Saanen kids for practical purposes as well as for selection purposes.