Live weight formula ?

[whitespringer]

Any thoughts on how to figure out the live weight of an animal based on the hung weight at the butcher? Lets assume head off, legs below the knees off, gutted and skinned out etc.

[Blainer]

My theory is double the weight as mentioned above,fully dressed.

[Caveman]

I found this

A Link: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/bgame/index.htm


Table 1. Equations for estimating live-weight from dressed weights of six North Dakota big game species (all weights are in pounds).
Species Equation
Bighorn Sheep
Ram (dressed weight x 1.13) + 31.9
Elk
Cow (dressed weight x 1.07) + 110.4
Bull (dressed weight x 1.30) + 24.4
Moose
Cow (dressed weight x 1.33) + 61.0
Bull (dressed weight x 1.27) + 78.2
Mule Deer
Doe (dressed weight x 1.28) + 3.6
Buck (dressed weight x 1.20) + 9.9
White-tailed Deer
Doe (dressed weight x 1.30) + 1.60
Buck (dressed weight x 1.15) + 11.7
Pronghorn
Doe (dressed weight x 0.95) + 38.7
Buck (dressed weight x 1.17) + 16.7
(Pronghorn data from G.J. Mitchell. 1971. Journal of Wildlife Management. 35(1): 76-86)

HOW IT WORKS
After determining the dressed weight of an animal, say a white-tailed buck, use the appropriate equation listed in Table 1. If the buck weighed 150 pounds dressed, multiply that times 1.15, and then add 11.7. The 184-pound-total is close to the true live weight. The average and ranges of weights for each North Dakota big game species is highlighted in Table 2.


Table 2. Average and range of fall live-weights in pounds for North Dakota big game species (all weights are in pounds).
Species Average Weight Range of Weights
Bighorn Sheep
Yearling and adult males 196 123-250
Elk
Young-of-the-year 298
Yearling and adult females 495 438-556
Yearling and adult males 698 469-950
Moose
Young-of-the-year 432 310-500
Yearling and adult females 879 600-1,160
Yearling and adult males 891 550-1,300
Mule Deer
Young-of-the-year 79 65-90
Yearling and adult females 138 110-170
Yearling and adult males 163 125-255
White-tailed Deer
Young-of-the-year 80 55-105
Yearling and adult females 131 90-208
Yearling and adult males 168 100-242
Pronghorn
Young-of-the-year 77 70-82
Yearling and adult females 108 91-124
Yearling and adult males 117 100-134
(Pronghorn data from G.J. Mitchell. 1971. Journal of Wildlife Management. 35(1): 76-86)

[6616]

Good info Caveman, thanks for digging this up.

[whitespringer]

Thanks for the info, I would have guessed at approx. double the hung weight, but your info Caveman would have the average animal at a fair bit less than double.
Maybe hunters are like fishermen, Liars:biggrin:

[Glenny]

A friend of mine wanted to put this age long question to rest so he bought a scale. He got his deer and hauled it to his place with guts and all and weighed it. Then he gutted it, skinned it and took the lower legs off and head. it was then 1/2 the weight within about ten lbs. So there you have it. Good experiment. G

[Blainer]

Thanks for the info, I would have guessed at approx. double the hung weight, but your info Caveman would have the average animal at a fair bit less than double.
Maybe hunters are like fishermen, Liars:biggrin:The above chart shows a 150lb buck dressed at a full weight of 184lbs.
Thats 34 lbs for head,hooves,lungs,heart,guts and fluids(blood,ect);that's almost impossible,a winter coat(hide)would weigh that,let alone the head with rack,gut pile,ect.

[Caveman]

Maybe hunters are like fishermen, Liars:biggrin:

That and that 150yd shot is 300 with an audience.

[reach]

The above chart shows a 150lb buck dressed at a full weight of 184lbs.
Thats 34 lbs for head,hooves,lungs,heart,guts and fluids(blood,ect);that's almost impossible,a winter coat(hide)would weigh that,let alone the head with rack,gut pile,ect.
I think the numbers Caveman posted were for calculating live weight if you know the field dressed weight, not from the weight on the hook at the butcher (skinned, head & feet off).

Any way you look at it, my LEH doe at 65 pounds on the hook is pretty small :redface:

[boxhitch]

Gotta know the def of 'dressed'......
From the link -


By using the equations found in Table 1, and knowing the dressed weight — whole body or live weight minus internal organs — it is possible to derive a good estimate of an animal's live weight.

Good post C Man

[cmc destroyer]

All I know is my buck was 192 on the hook and I am pretty confident he had at least another 60 lbs on the hoof. It was all I could do just to lift his front quarters onto my quad and I'm a fairly big guy.