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The Accuracy of Measurements and Weights of Sheep

United States Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Results of six studies to determine the accuracy of measurements of sheep are presented. Accuracy of weight was also determined in five of these studies. Measurements that appear to be most accurate, and at the same time measure characteristics which experimenters may desire to study, include height at withers, length from mid-front of scaupla to pin bones, width at shoulders, depths of chest and middle, circumferences of chest and middle, and circumference of foreshank.

Measurements obtained from animals in fleece or from enlarged photographs are generally less accurate than direct measurements on sheared animals.

The difficulties of interpreting measurements in terms of carcass or other values are pointed out. Results of this study indicate that many measurements can be taken with reasonable accuracy, and some external measurements will undoubtedly be of use in interpreting the results of many experiments. It should be recognized, however, that relatively little has been done to determine the relation between external measures and scores and the characteristics of the carcass or other measures of the real productive ability of the animal. Obviously, there is need for much study on this phase of measuring performance. To avoid unnecessary work, the measurements taken in any study should be limited to those for which definite use is planned in the specific experiment under consideration, until more is known of the relation between external measures and merit of the animal.

¹ The authors are indebted to G. W. Brier, formerly junior statistician, for assistance in the statistical calculations and to C. E. Terrill, animal husbandman, for assistance in taking the measurements on groups I and IV.