Linear body measurements (LBMs) have indeed been referred to by various terms across scientific literature, depending on the context, species studied, or regional preferences. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where access to advanced animal breeding technologies is limited, traditional genetic improvement strategies face considerable challenges. This paper explores the utility of linear body measurements (LBMs)—including traits like heart girth, body length, and wither height—as effective proxies for complex performance metrics in indigenous livestock and poultry. These morphometric traits provide a low-cost, scalable alternative for estimating live weight, growth potential, and reproductive performance, especially in smallholder production systems lacking digital scales or genomic tools. LBMs are particularly valuable due to their ease of measurement and non-invasive nature, making them ideal for community-based breeding initiatives. Research consistently reports moderate to high heritability estimates for many of these traits, with strong phenotypic and genetic correlations linking them to key outcomes such as body weight, carcass quality, and fertility. For example, heart girth has proven to be a reliable predictor of live weight in goats, sheep, and cattle, while traits like shank and keel length are commonly used in indigenous poultry selection. The paper highlights that non-genetic influences—including age, sex, nutrition, and production environment—must be accounted for when applying LBMs in breeding programs. Age-related growth patterns, sex-based dimorphism, and feed availability can significantly alter body dimensions and, if unadjusted, may confound genetic evaluations. In addition to supporting phenotypic selection, LBMs contribute to breed characterization and management of indigenous genetic resources. When combined with emerging genomic tools, these measurements can enhance the accuracy of estimated breeding values and facilitate targeted interventions such as artificial insemination. They also offer an entry point for digitized data collection systems, making them adaptable to evolving breeding infrastructures. Overall, the integration of LBMs into livestock improvement programs represents a pragmatic approach to enhancing productivity, resilience, and food security in resource-constrained settings. To maximize their impact, stakeholders should invest in standardizing measurement protocols, training local actors, and aligning LBM use with broader genetic improvement and conservation efforts across the region.