Comparison and reliability of techniques to estimate live cattle body weight

Five different techniques of estimating the live cattle body weight were evaluated with the objective to identify the most reliable technique for use in the field. Weighbridge was used as the reference for other techniques. The measurement techniques evaluated were Weighbridge, Weigh tape, Rondo tape, Schaeffer's formula, Agarwal's formula, and calculator method. The body weights of 89 Brown Swiss and 34 Jersey Cross cattle were estimated by each technique. Compared with Weighbridge, the body weight estimates in Brown Swiss cattle exceeded by about 70 and 66 kg for Agarwal's formula and Rondo tape, respectively. In Jersey Cross cattle, the estimates exceeded by about 122 and 84 kg for Agarwal's formula and Rondo tape, respectively. In both breeds, the estimates of Schaeffer's formula were not significantly different from the Weighbridge. The estimates of weight tape were also not significantly different from the Weighbridge although the estimates exceeded by over 21 kg in Brown Swiss cattle and over 44 kg in Jersey Cross cattle. The study concluded that Schaeffer's formula is the most reliable of all techniques to estimate live body weight of cattle, followed by weigh tape. Agarwal's formula and Rondo tape are less reliable and their use in the field must be discontinued.