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The prediction of the body composition of hill sheep from body weight, red cell volume and tritiated water space

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. R. Sykes
A. R. Sykes
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh EH17 1JH
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Summary

The use of body weight, red cell volume and tritiated water space in the prediction of the body water, body-fat and soft tissue protein contents of hill sheep was investigated. Sixteen Blackface sheep, ranging in age from 2½ to 6½ years, were used before mating in November when in peak body condition and 21, of similar age distribution, were used in mid-lactation in June when in very poor body condition. Mean fat concentrations in the empty body were 188 and 28 g/kg in November and June, respectively.

Body weight alone accounted for 46 and 14% of the variation in body-fat content in November and June, respectively. The inclusion of red cell volume as a second independent variate did not improve the efficiency of the prediction equations. When tritiated water space and body weight were used 77% of the variation in body-fat content was accounted for in both November and June. Separate equations for the November and June groups gave the most accurate estimate of body-fat content, but it was concluded that for most practical purposes a single relationship would be sufficiently accurate. Soft tissue protein content was best described as a simple function of body weight.

The application of prediction equations from the literature to the present populations of sheep led to overestimates of body-fat content by up to 100%. It is suggested that prediction equations need to be specific to the experimental conditions operating or to the particular population under study.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 1974 , pp. 269 - 275
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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