author(s)
Balan C, Kathiravan G, Thirunavukkarasu M and Jeichitra V

abstract
Fitting growth curves of Mecheri sheep was carried out using the data on body weights available at Mecheri Sheep Research Station, Pottaneri during the period from 1991 to 2014. Non-linear growth models, viz., Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logistic and Richards models were used for estimating the growth curve parameters. The best fitted model was identified to describe the growth pattern in Mecheri lambs based on the growth parameters. The highest R² value and the lowest MSE, MAE, MAPE values were observed in Brody model fitted. Brody growth model was found to be the best followed by Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logistic and Richards growth models in the order of their goodness. The predicted body weights through Brody model at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 2.57, 8.92, 13.03, 15.70 and 17.50 kg, respectively in Mecheri sheep.