Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Live Weight Estimation of Donkeys in Central México from Measurement of Thoracic Circumference

  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Body measurements (length from nape of neck to the withers; height to withers; length from withers to tail root; length from shoulder to tuber ischii; thoracic circumference; umbilical circumference) were taken and correlated with live weight from 160 donkeys (mean ± standard deviation = 6 ± 2.6 years old) in Central México. The age was assessed from dentition. Sex of the donkeys was also recorded. Sex was an important factor of variation (p = 0.011). Live weight was estimated using two allometric models. Model 1: Live weight = β o × (thoracic circumference)β1. Model 2: Live weight = β o × (height to the withers) βl × (thoracic circumference) β2. Separate prediction equations were produced for males and females, plus one for the total sampled. The ‘best fit’ models, were those using thoracic circumference to predict the live weight. Males: live weight = 0.018576 × (thoracic circumference)1.84107 (R 2 = 0.9839). Females: live weight = 0.031255 × (thoracic circumference)1.72888 (R 2 = 0.9839). The equations derived to estimate the live weight of donkeys in Britain, Morocco and Zimbabwe were less satisfactory for use with donkeys from Central México because they overestimated the live weight.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

βo :

1, 2, parameters in the allometric model

R :

correlation coefficient

References

  • Aluja, A.S. de and Lopez, F., 1992. Donkeys in México. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 12, 389–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, C.L. and Huntington, P.J., 1988. Body condition scoring and weight estimation of horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 20, 41–45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conover, W.J., 1980. Practical Nonparametric Statistics, (Wiley, New York)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson-Saunders, B. and Trapp, R.G., 1993. Bioestadistica Medica, (El Manual Moderno, México)

    Google Scholar 

  • Draper, N. and Smith, H., 1981. Applied Regression Analysis, 2nd edn, (Wiley, USA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eley, J.L. and French, J.M., 1993. Estimating the body weight of donkeys. The Veterinary Record, 132, 249–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Nengomasha, E.M., Pearson, R.A. and Smith, T., 1999. The donkey as a draught power resource in smallholder farming in semi-arid Western Zimbabwe 1. Live weight and food and water requirements. Animal Science, 69, 297–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesamvundi, A.E., Mulaudzi, J., Ramanyimi, N.D. and Taylor, G.J., 2000. Estimation of body weight in Nguni-type cattle under communal management conditions. South African Journal of Animal Science, 30 (supplement 1), 97–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, R.A. and Ouassat, M., 1996. Estimation of the live weight and body condition of working donkeys in Morocco. The Veterinary Record, 138, 229–233

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, M.J., 1991. The Allometry of Growth and Reproduction, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS, 1990. Guide for Personal Computers, (SAS Institute, Cary, NC)

  • Thys, E. and Hardouin, J., 1991. Prediction of sheep body weight in markets in the far north Cameroon. Livestock Research for Rural Development, ?, 1–4

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, DF

    A. S. de Aluja & F. López

  2. Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, DF

    G. Tapia Pérez

  3. Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Division of Animal Health and Welfare, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland, UK

    R. A. Pearson

Authors
  1. A. S. de Aluja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Tapia Pérez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. A. Pearson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. S. de Aluja.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Aluja, A.S., Pérez, G.T., López, F. et al. Live Weight Estimation of Donkeys in Central México from Measurement of Thoracic Circumference. Trop Anim Health Prod 37 (Suppl 1), 159–171 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-005-9007-0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-005-9007-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation