Using Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines to Estimate the Body Weight of Savanna Goats

Simple Summary: The current study was conducted to predict the live body weight using body length, heart girth, rump height and withers height of 173 Savanna goats from a stud breeder at Bysteel, Polokwane municipality, South Africa. A multivariate adaptive regression splines algorithm was used, along with the different proportions of the test and training sets to predict body weight. The body weight was best predicted from the training dataset with body weight influenced by withers height and heart girth, respectively. The interaction of withers height and body length with withers height and heart girth also influenced body weight. In conclusion, it could be suggested that the multivariate adaptive regression splines algorithm might allow Savanna goat breeders to find the best population and examine the body measurements affecting body weight as indirect selection criteria for describing the breed description of Savanna goats and aiding sustainable meat production. The Savanna goat breed is an indigenous goat breed in South Africa that is reared for meat production. Live body weight is an important tool for livestock management, selection and feeding. The use of multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) to predict the live body weight of Savanna goats remains poorly understood. The study was conducted to investigate the influence of linear body measurements on the body weight of Savanna goats using MARS. In total, 173 Savanna goats between the ages of two and five years were used to collect body weight (BW), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), rump height (RH) and withers height (WH). MARS was used as a data mining algorithm for data analysis. The best predictive model was achieved from the training dataset with the highest coefficient of determination and Pearson's correlation coefficient (0.959 and 0.961), respectively. BW was influenced positively when WH > 63 cm and HG >100 cm with a coefficient of 0.51 and 2.71, respectively. The interaction of WH > 63 cm and BL < 75 cm, WH < 68 cm and HG < 100 cm with a coefficient of 0.28 and 0.02 had a positive influence on Savanna goat BW, while male goats had a negative influence (-4.57). The findings of the study suggest that MARS can be used to estimate the BW in Savanna goats. This finding will be helpful to farmers in the selection of breeding stock and precision in the day-to-day activities such as feeding, marketing and veterinary services.