S.C. Mehta
National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner 334001, Rajasthan, India
ABSTRACT
Body weight gain in 2 sexes and 4 genotypes of dromedary from birth to 20 years of age was analysed for a period of 21 years. The average per month body weight gain in the Indian dromedary ranged from 19.46 to -3.86 kg, respectively from birth to 20 years of age. The breed and sex effects were largely non-significant (P>0.05). The body weight gain in camels was maximum during first 6 months of age, precisely, 48.26 kg in the 1st quarter and 58.39 kg in the 2nd quarter. The body weight gain continued up to 11 years of age and thereafter, it was more or less negative. The linear, logarithmic, quadratic, inverse and cubic functions were derived to explain the age-weight gain relationship in Indian dromedary and the respective R2 values were 0.702, 0.892, 0.795, 0.651 and 0.834. It is quite evident from the analysis and curve fitting that the logarithmic function explains the per month body weight gain in camel for the entire life time to the extent of 89.2 %, hence the equation Y = 21.0934 -4.3128 ln (x) can reliably be utilised for the prediction of body weight gain of camels of different sexes and genetic groups for all purposes including the meat production potential and performance evaluation.
Key words: Body weight, camel, logarithmic regression, mathematical functions
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