Body Weight of Agricultural Animals

an important economic and biological index, which describes the growth and development of animals.

The rate of animal growth and development and the results of raising and fattening are judged by weight changes over a given period. Where other conditions are equal, fast-growing animals use less feed nutrients per kg weight gain and reach economic maturity faster than do slow-growing animals. The body weight of agricultural animals is considered in evaluating their quality. Feed norms and rations are also made up according to weight. The liveweight is determined directly by weighing the animal or indirectly by measuring its body, using various methods, such as the Kluver-Strauch, Frowein, or Pridorogin.

The slaughtered weight (the weight of the carcass including internal and subcutaneous fat) represents the ratio of the parts used for human consumption (meat and fat) to the by-products (skin, entrails, and bones). The dressing percentage is the slaughtered weight expressed as a percentage of liveweight. For cattle, this is 50-65 percent or more; for hogs, 70-85 percent or more; for sheep, 40-60 percent; for poultry, 75-85 percent; and for rabbits, 60-62 percent.