The prediction of live weight from body measurements on female Holstein calves by digital image analysis

Abstract

SUMMARYThe objective of the current study was to determine the accuracy of the prediction of live weight (LW) from body measurements (BMs) by using digital image analysis on female Holstein calves. The calves were measured with a measurement stick and digital image analysis. The following linear parameters were taken: body length (BL), wither height (WH), chest depth (CD), hip height (HH) and hip width (HW). LW and BMs were recorded at birth, at weaning and at 24 weeks of age. Regression coefficients, which included all BMs at birth, gave a low R2 value (66·7%), but the R2 value was found to be 87·6 and 86·0% at weaning and 24 weeks of age, respectively. A high correlation coefficient was found among LW and CD, HH and HW at weaning (0·90, 0·91 and 090, respectively) and at 24 weeks of age (0·89, 0·90 and 0·91, respectively). The results confirm that for female Holstein calves, digital image analysis is an effective measuring system for the prediction of LW from BMs.