HOW MANY KILOGRAMS OF WEIGHT ARE NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE BODY CONDITIONS OF PELIBUEY EWES?

Abstract

The relationship between live weight (LW) and body condition (BC) in Pelibuey sheep in the tropics was evaluated. The weights and BC were measured and evaluated in non-gestating and non-lactating sheep (n=303). The relationship between the LW and the BC was estimated through regression models. The correlation coefficient between the LW and the BC was 0.78 and the regression equation had a coefficient of determination of 0.62. A change in the BC corresponded to 6.90 kg of live weight in a scale of 1 to 5 in non-gestating and non-lactating Pelibuey sheep, equivalent to 15 % of their adult live weight reported for the breed.