Prediction of Body Weight from Linear Body Measurements in Sheep: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of the study was to systematically review the literature on the prediction of the body weight from linear body measurement traits in sheep using four databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. The findings showed that eighteen (n = 18) articles with22% (n = 4) were from South Africa certified to be utilised in this study after screening. Moreover, the outcomes showed that the highest publication of articles were in 2021 with 22% (n = 4). The Dorper sheep breed reported to be the commonly used breed with 3% (n = 5). The results indicated that 56%of article used revealed that the principal component analysis (PCA)statistical technique was the mostly used in predicting body weight. About72% of articles reported wither height as the best linear body measurement trait in sheep. A total of eighteen articles (n = 18) used showed a significant association between the body weights and used linear body measurement features in varied sheep types. Findings of this systematic review might be used as the evidence of which linear body measurement trait might be used to predict live body weight in sheep in the absence of weighing scale and which traits might be used to improve body weight during breeding.