Regression Models for Estimating Fat Carcass Percentage Using Chest Measurement in Thin Tailed Lambs

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of using chest measurement for subcutaneous, intermuscular, and total fat percentage in Thin Tailed Lambs. Twenty one heads of three months old male thin tailed lambs with initial body weight (BW) 14.57 ± 2.19 kg were raised up to 3 months fattening period. Chest girth (CG), chest depth (CD), and chest width (CW) were measured before slaughtered. The fat of the carcass was separated into subcutaneous, intermuscular, and total fat, then weighed. The data was analyzed by linear regression to determine the correlation and equation between chest measurement and fat carcass percentage, then was evaluated by t-test, standard error (SE) and the differences were measured to predict the accuracy of the equation. The results showed that the correlation between CG, CW and CG/CD in intermuscular and total fat percentage was positive and significant (P<0.05) with correlation value moderate to high (r= 0.510 - 0.664), while subcutaneous were not significant. SE of each variable showed a low value (0.002-0.020) that indicate the prediction is close to the actual fat percentage value. The lowest differences between prediction and actual value could be found in CG regression equation in total fat (0.368%), while the highest value was 8.918% in intermuscular fat in CW/CG regression. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that CG regression is the best equation for estimating intermuscular, and total fat percentage using chest measurement in Thin Tailed Lambs.