Clinical Value of Morphometric Measurements in Sheep: From Live Body Weight Estimation to Rational and Safe Drug Dosing

Sheep production in Türkiye is predominantly conducted under extensive farming systems where weighing scales are often unavailable. This limitation frequently leads to empirical drug dosing in Veterinary Internal Medicine, increasing the risk of both therapeutic failure due to underdosing and systemic toxicity due to overdosing. This study evaluates the role of morphometric measurements (heart girth, body length, and withers height) in predicting live weight, with a focus on clinical risk management and rational pharmacotherapy. Previous biometric studies in Karya sheep have demonstrated that age significantly influences morphometric growth patterns, characterized by a rapid growth phase between 2–4 years and a plateau after 5 years, with heart girth being the most reliable independent predictor of live weight. From a pathophysiological perspective, accurate weight estimation is critical in conditions such as ketosis, hepatic lipidosis, and acute ruminal acidosis, where dosing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and fluid therapy is strictly weight-dependent. Inaccurate weight estimation in animals with compromised hepatic function may result in reduced drug clearance, leading to prolonged half-life, coagulation disorders, and fatal gastrointestinal complications. Therefore, morphometric standardization should be considered not merely a zootechnical tool but a clinical decision-support system that reduces empirical bias and subclinical toxicity in field conditions. Integration of these models into mobile applications and digital imaging systems may ultimately eliminate empirical dosing practices in veterinary field medicine.