Irene F Almazan | Nora C. Cabaral
The study was conducted to validate seven prediction models from several publications on the weight estimation of goats using metaanalysis. The experiment followed a 2x8 factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design. Differences of means between sex and prediction models were analyzed using Scheffe’s test. Analysis revealed comparable actual body weight (ABW), body length (BL) and heart girth (HG) among 113 goats studied regardless of sex and breed. Heart girth had the highest degree of correlation (r=0.966) while BL has a degree of correlation of r=0.703 to ABW. Estimated weights using prediction models 3 and 7 were comparable to ABW of males, females and weight regardless of sex. Prediction model 5 was significantly higher while prediction models 1,2,4 and 6 are significantly lower to the ABW. Regardless of sex, prediction models 3 and 7 can be used by smallhold goat raisers as an alternative way to estimate weights of goats during marketing to minimized profit losses. However, comparative analysis revealed that prediction model 7(BW,kg=-53.061+1.120*HG,cm) is more accurate/precise in relation to ABW, hence conversion tables were made for easy dissemination and utilization by farmers during actual marketing. Findings serve as empirical data to study goat’s DNA for HG (marker-assisted-selection) for conservation or improvement due to its strong correlation to ABW.
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