Body conformation based on chest girth, body length, and body volume of the local Peranakan Etawah goat

Abstract Body conformation is determined by chest girth (CG), body length (BL), and body volume (BV). Body conformation is correlated with productivity, which becomes a useful variable for managing and selecting animals. Data on CG, BL, and BW (body weight) were collected from the local Peranakan Etawah (PE) goat, both male (29 hds.) and female (151 hds.), aged 1-≥5 yr. at the Dairy Goat Station of IRIAP (Indonesian Research Institute for Animal Production), Bogor, West Java. BV was estimated from BL and CG by a formula: BV = BL.π[(½CG)/π] 2 . The prediction of BW from BL, CG, and BV was developed using stepwise linear regression. By the grouping 1-5 yrs. ages, the averages of BV in females were obtained at 23.6±7.3 dm 3 , 31.9±9.2 dm 3 , 43.9±10.9 dm 3 , 47.5±10.9 dm 3 , and 41.8±7.5 dm 3 , while those in males were 25.0±4.8 dm 3 , 39.7±9.0 dm 3 , 36.9±6.8 dm 3 , 46.2±6.2 dm 3 , and 51.1±9.3 dm 3 , respectively. Predicted BWs proved that BW was mainly determined by BV rather than CG and BL. The conclusion was that BV was significantly associated with BL and CG, whereas BV largely determined BV.