Accuracy of prediction of the liveweight of horses from body measurements.
Abstract: Fifty-three horses, all but two of them over two years of age and varying in type, sex and liveweight (230 to 707 kg) were weighed and seven different body measurements were recorded in duplicate by a single operator. The best overall prediction of liveweight using an equation with two variables was found to be: liveweight (kg) = (umbilical girth [cm])1.78 X (length of body from tuber ischii to elbow [cm]0.97/3011). This equation had an adjusted R2 value of 94.9 per cent and was derived from the pooled data, because differences of sex, type and weight did not significantly affect the relationship. The stable behaviour of the relationship was demonstrated by the fact that about 95 per cent of the residuals lay within +/- 53 kg, giving an average error of 4.7 per cent. The accuracy of prediction of the equation was better than the accuracy of four other established equations. A nomogram based on the equation is given.
Publication Date: 1989-11-25 PubMed ID: 2603337DOI: 10.1136/vr.125.22.549Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper focuses on devising a method to predict the liveweight of horses from two specific body measurements. The results indicate a high accuracy level with a mean error rate of 4.7%.
Objective and Methodology
- The research centered on finding an equation to predict a horse’s liveweight based on certain body measurements. The goal was to increase accuracy in weight estimations without the need for weighing scales.
- Fifty-three horses of diverse type, sex, and weight (230kg to 707kg) were part of this study. Except for two, all were over two years old.
- Seven different body measurements were taken twice each by the same person, focusing on repeatability and consistency of these observations.
Deduced Equation
- The research resulted in an equation: Liveweight (kg) = (Umbilical girth [cm])^1.78 X (Length of body from tuber ischii to elbow [cm]^0.97/3011).
- This equation with two variable parameters—umbilical girth and the distance from tuber ischii to elbow—best predicted the liveweight. Tuber ischii and elbow are specific anatomical points on a horse’s body.
- This equation resulted from pooled data, which means it used all available data, irrespective of the horses’ type, sex, or weight.
Accuracy
- The equation’s accuracy was validated by an adjusted R^2 value of 94.9%, meaning that these two parameters explain nearly 95% of the variation in the horses’ actual weight. This value assesses how well observed outcomes can be predicted by the model.
- The equation’s persistent accuracy was confirmed because approximately 95% of the residuals (the differences between the predicted and actual weights) were within a range of +/- 53 kg. This range gave an average error rate of 4.7%.
- Remarkably, the accuracy of the derived equation surpassed that of four other established equations, enlightening its feasibility and validity.
Nomogram Based on the Equation
- The research also presented a nomogram—a graphical representation that allows the approximate graphical computation of the equation. This tool aids in visualizing and calculating the horse’s weight in a more user-friendly way, based on the given equation.
Cite This Article
APA
Jones RS, Lawrence TL, Veevers A, Cleave N, Hall J.
(1989).
Accuracy of prediction of the liveweight of horses from body measurements.
Vet Rec, 125(22), 549-553.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.125.22.549 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Liverpool Hospital.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Weight
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Male
- Mathematics
- Regression Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Urbanek N, Zebeli Q. Morphometric Measurements and Muscle Atrophy Scoring as a Tool to Predict Body Weight and Condition of Horses. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 9;10(8).
- Górniak W, Wieliczko M, Soroko M, Korczyński M. Evaluation of the Accuracy of Horse Body Weight Estimation Methods. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 26;10(10).
- Jensen RB, Rockhold LL, Tauson AH. Weight estimation and hormone concentrations related to body condition in Icelandic and Warmblood horses: a field study. Acta Vet Scand 2019 Dec 26;61(1):63.
- Matsuura A, Torii S, Ojima Y, Kiku Y. 3D imaging and body measurement of riding horses using four scanners simultaneously. J Equine Sci 2024 Mar;35(1):1-7.
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