scholarly journals The dependence of the reproductive qualities of beef-cows on the Body Condition Scoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 06016
Author(s):  
I.N. Khakimov ◽  
A.L. Akimov ◽  
V.S. Zoteev ◽  
G.A. Simonov ◽  
A.G. Simonov
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Comparative Assessment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Economic Experiment ◽  
Service Period ◽  
Body Condition Scoring ◽  
Duration Of Pregnancy

A comparative assessment of the reproductive qualities of beef-cows of the Hereford and Kazakh white-headed breeds is given, depending on the Body Condition Scoring. In the scientific and economic experiment in three farms on 3 groups of cows of two breeds, the influence of Body Condition Scoring on the reproductive qualities of cows was studied. It was found that cows with a Body Condition Scoring of 6 points have a significantly shorter service period (by 10-13 days) and the interval between calving (by 6-9 days), with an increase in the duration of pregnancy by 2-4 days, compared with cows with a score of 3 points. The calf crop per 100 cows, in groups with 6 Body Condition Scoring points, was higher than in groups with 3 Body Condition Scoring points by 9.2, 8.3 and 5.1%.

scholarly journals Relation of Automated Body Condition Scoring System and Inline Biomarkers (Milk Yield, β-Hydroxybutyrate, Lactate Dehydrogenase and Progesterone in Milk) with Cow’s Pregnancy Success

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Ramūnas Antanaitis ◽  
Vida Juozaitienė ◽  
Dovilė Malašauskienė ◽  
Mindaugas Televičius ◽  
Mingaudas Urbutis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Analyzer ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
Body Condition Scoring

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation of automatically determined body condition score (BCS) and inline biomarkers such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), milk yield (MY), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and progesterone (mP4) with the pregnancy success of cows. The cows (n = 281) had 2.1 ± 0.1. lactations on average, were 151.6 ± 0.06 days postpartum, and were once tested with “Easy scan” ultrasound (IMV imaging, Scotland) at 30–35 d post-insemination. According to their reproductive status, cows were grouped into two groups: non-pregnant (n = 194 or 69.0% of cows) and pregnant (n = 87 or 31.0% of cows). Data concerning their BCS, mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected each day from the day of insemination for 7 days. The BCS was collected with body condition score camera (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden); mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected with the fully automated real-time analyzer Herd Navigator™ (Lattec I/S, Hillerød, Denmark) in combination with a DeLaval milking robot (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden). Of all the biomarkers, three differences between groups were significant. The body condition score (BCS) of the pregnant cows was higher (+0.49 score), the milk yield (MY) was lower (−4.36 kg), and milk progesterone in pregnant cows was (+6.11 ng/mL) higher compared to the group of non-pregnant cows (p < 0.001). The pregnancy status of the cows was associated with their BCS assessment (p < 0.001). We estimated that cows with BCS > 3.2 were 22 times more likely to have reproductive success than cows with BCS ≤ 3.2.

scholarly journals Body condition scoring in relation to changes in body weight and performance in Belgian Blue double-muscled beef cows

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo O. Fiems ◽  
Wim Van Caelenbergh ◽  
Sam De Campeneere ◽  
Daniël L. De Brabander
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Body Condition Scoring ◽  
And Performance

Effect of herbage allowance on productive and reproductive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing on Campos grassland

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín Claramunt ◽  
Andrea Fernández-Foren ◽  
Pablo Soca
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Early Postpartum ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Condition Score

The effects of two levels of herbage allowance (HA, kg DM/kg liveweight (LW)) on forage mass and chemical composition, cow body condition score, cow LW, stocking rate, productive and reproductive responses were evaluated during two consecutive years. Eighty primiparous spring-calving beef cows were allocated to a completely randomised block design of two HA that had an annual average of 2.5 (low) and 4.0 kg DM/kg LW (high) from –150 to 195 days postpartum. The grazing system was continuous, and the put-and-take method was employed to adjust HA. At 86 ± 12 days postpartum, all cows were submitted to calf suckling restrictions with nose plates (12 days) and dietary flushing (2 kg/cow.day of whole-rice bran for 22 days), 6 days before bull introduction. Forage mass was affected by HA (P = 0.004) and year (P = 0.014); the high HA had a greater forage mass than the low HA (1474 vs 1212 ± 86 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05), and Year 2 had a greater forage mass than Year 1 (1545 vs 1134 ± 78 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05). Stocking rate was affected by HA and season (P = 0.0004) interaction. The stocking rate during autumn and spring was greater in low than high HA, and no differences were identified in winter and summer. The body condition score was improved in high HA during autumn and resulted in a greater winter (mid-gestation) body condition score than the low HA without differences during spring-summer (postpartum). Cow LW was lower during autumn, winter and early postpartum (16 days postpartum) in low HA in Year 1 than high HA of Year 1 and high and low HA cows in Year 2. Furthermore, the probability of total pregnancies (0.88 vs 0.59 ± 0.07; P = 0.01) and the calf weight adjusted to 205 days (194 vs 175 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) were greater in high HA. Calf weight adjusted to 205 days (Year 1: 192 vs Year 2: 177 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) and survival curves of postpartum anoestrus (P = 0.01) were affected by year but did not affect the probability of conception, early or total pregnancies. In conclusion, the reproductive and productive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing Campos grasslands were improved in high HA and could contribute to alleviating adverse climatic conditions effects.

scholarly journals Validation of a Commercial Automated Body Condition Scoring System on a Commercial Dairy Farm

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel L. Mullins ◽  
Carissa M. Truman ◽  
Magnus R. Campler ◽  
Jeffrey M. Bewley ◽  
Joao H. C. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Interobserver Reliability ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
The Body ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Body Condition Scoring

Body condition scoring (BCS) is the management practice of assessing body reserves of individual animals by visual or tactile estimation of subcutaneous fat and muscle. Both high and low BCS can negatively impact milk production, disease, and reproduction. Visual or tactile estimation of subcutaneous fat reserves in dairy cattle relies on their body shape or thickness of fat layers and muscle on key areas of the body. Although manual BCS has proven beneficial, consistent qualitative scoring can be difficult to implement. The desirable BCS range for dairy cows varies within lactation and should be monitored at multiple time points throughout lactation for the most impact, a practice that can be hard to implement. However, a commercial automatic BCS camera is currently available for dairy cattle (DeLaval Body Condition Scoring, BCS DeLaval International AB, Tumba, Sweden). The objective of this study was to validate the implementation of an automated BCS system in a commercial setting and compare agreement of the automated body condition scores with conventional manual scoring. The study was conducted on a commercial farm in Indiana, USA, in April 2017. Three trained staff members scored 343 cows manually using a 1 to 5 BCS scale, with 0.25 increments. Pearson’s correlations (0.85, scorer 1 vs. 2; 0.87, scorer 2 vs. 3; and 0.86, scorer 1 vs. 3) and Cohen’s Kappa coefficients (0.62, scorer 1 vs. 2; 0.66, scorer 2 vs. 3; and 0.66, scorer 1 vs. 3) were calculated to assess interobserver reliability, with the correlations being 0.85, 0.87, and 0.86. The automated camera BCS scores were compared with the averaged manual scores. The mean BCS were 3.39 ± 0.32 and 3.27 ± 0.27 (mean ± SD) for manual and automatic camera scores, respectively. We found that the automated body condition scoring technology was strongly correlated with the manual scores, with a correlation of 0.78. The automated BCS camera system accuracy was equivalent to manual scoring, with a mean error of −0.1 BCS and within the acceptable manual error threshold of 0.25 BCS between BCS (3.00 to 3.75) but was less accurate for cows with high (>3.75) or low (<3.00) BCS scores compared to manual scorers. A Bland–Altman plot was constructed which demonstrated a bias in the high and low automated BCS scoring. The initial findings show that the BCS camera system provides accurate BCS between 3.00 to 3.75 but tends to be inaccurate at determining the magnitude of low and high BCS scores. However, the results are promising, as an automated system may encourage more producers to adopt BCS into their practices to detect early signs of BCS change for individual cattle. Future algorithm and software development is likely to increase the accuracy in automated BCS scoring.

Metabolic and endocrine profiles of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. 1. Relationships between body condition score at calving and metabolic profiles during the transition period

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 856 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Soca ◽  
M. Carriquiry ◽  
M. Claramun ◽  
V. Gestido ◽  
A. Meikle
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
The Body ◽  
Metabolic Profiles ◽  
Native Grassland ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Condition Score

The body condition score (BCS) at calving has been postulated as the main factor in the interaction of nutrition and reproduction in beef-cow ecosystems. The objective of the present study was to analyse the effect of BCS at calving on endocrine and metabolic profiles during the transition period in primiparous Hereford cows (n = 56) grazing native grassland. Cow BCS was registered and plasma insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and metabolites (concentrations of urea, albumin, cholesterol, total protein, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)) were determined in plasma from –30 to +45 days postpartum (DPP). The effect of BCS at calving (low ≤3.5 and moderate ≥4; 1–8 visual scale) on BCS evolution and hormone and metabolite concentrations were analysed using a time repeated-measures analysis. Cow BCS, NEFA, urea and IGF-I profiles were affected (P < 0.05) by the BCS at calving and DPP interaction, while insulin tended (P = 0.06) to be affected only by BCS at calving. The low-BCS cows presented a smaller loss of BCS during the prepartum than did moderate-BCS cows, and a delayed BCS recovery during the postpartum. The increase in plasma NEFA was greater (P < 0.05) and started earlier during the prepartum period in the low-BCS cows. Protein concentrations increased during prepartum to +30 DPP, while albumin and urea concentrations were maintained until calving and decreased during the postpartum. Urea concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) during prepartum in low-BCS cows. Concentrations of IGF-I and insulin were greater (P < 0.05) in moderate- than low-BCS cows during prepartum, but did not differ between the groups after calving. No effects were observed in calf weight or milk production at +45 DPP. The association between BCS during prepartum and at calving with the endocrine and metabolic profiles (positive: insulin, IGF-I; negative: NEFA and urea) reflected a better nutritional status and plasticity to negative energy balance on moderate cows. This different endocrine milieu did not affect calf weight and/or milk production. In conclusion, the BCS at calving affected the metabolic and endocrine profile during the transition period of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland.

Equine obesity and the role of the veterinary nurse

UK-Vet Equine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 265-268
Author(s):  
Clarissa Seeley ◽  
Stella Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Condition Scoring ◽  
Client Education ◽  
Inherent Problem ◽  
Equine Obesity ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk

Equine obesity is defined as a medical disease in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it has an adverse effect on the general health of the horse. Obesity is a cause for concern, with one-third of the equine population in the UK being regarded as obese, although owner recognition of obesity in horses is an inherent problem, with many underestimating the body condition or weight of their horse. This is further complicated by the fact that with larger framed horses, or horses that are already overweight, assessing body condition is more difficult. There are a number of ways to assess body condition and the most practical means of regular assessment is body condition scoring, although this is regarded as subjective. As with many diseases and disorders, the cause of obesity is multifactorial. However, the most common reason for a horse to become obese is overfeeding, coupled with a lack of exercise. Obesity can be addressed with client education and veterinary nurses can provide advice on weight management programmes. However, these need to be tailored to the individual horse and owners need to recognise that they are entering into a long-term commitment.

scholarly journals Correlation between body condition change and reproduction parameters of Holstein-Frisian cows after calving

2010 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Edit M. J. Jónás ◽  
Imre Mucsi ◽  
István Komlósi
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
The Body ◽  
Professional Literature ◽  
Condition Change ◽  
Service Period ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Plain Region ◽  
Service Rates ◽  
Friesian Cows

The authors examined the body condition with relation to reproduction of Holstein-Friesian cows on three dairy farms in the South Plain region. During the examination they analyzed the data of 516 births of 494 Holstein-Friesian cows. They were trying to find correlation between the first service, the service period and the service rates. The examinations with regard to the correlations were different from the ones published in the professional literature. The body condition at the time of calving affected the interval from calving to the first service but not the conceptionrates or the service period. The examinations did not prove any correlations between body condition changes and reproduction.

scholarly journals Gestation Rate in Beef Cows with Different Calving Orders Submitted to FTAI Protocol: Effects of Body Condition, Number of Progesterone Intravaginal Device Uses and Bull

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 832
Author(s):  
Lucas Balinhas Farias ◽  
Matheus Wrege Meireles Barbosa ◽  
Matheus Gomes Lopes ◽  
Gabriel Weizenmann Fernandes ◽  
Ana Laura Aita Xavier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
The Body ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Category Type ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Reproductive Rates

The search for better reproductive rates in beef cattle breeding must consider some important issues, such as nutrition, health, animal category, type of reproductive technique, and selection of animals. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the body condition score (BCS), the number of uses of the intravaginal progesterone device and the effect of the bull on the gestation rate of lactating beef cows, with different calving orders, submitted to a fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. In the study, 623 Aberdeen Angus cows were used, which were categorized into three groups according to the calving order: primiparous cows, second-parity cows, and multiparous cows. On day zero of the FTAI protocol, an evaluation of the BCS of the cows was performed, using progesterone intravaginal devices (IVD) for 9 days, starting from the D0 of the protocol both for used and new IVD. Semen from three different Aberdeen Angus breeders was used. Statistical analysis was made in the NCSS 7.0 software, using the Chi-square test and a significance value of p<0.05. The calving order influenced the pregnancy rate, with the category of primiparous cows having the lowest rates (p<0.05). The BCS and the number of uses of the IVD showed significance only in the primiparous category, in which animals with BCS equal or above 3.5 obtained a higher pregnancy rate, as well as animals with second-use IVD when compared to other groups (p <0.05). Therefore, primiparous cows presented a lower pregnancy rate when compared to the other categories, as well as the BCS and the number of uses of the IVD.

EFFECTS OF WINTER ACCLIMATIZATION ON RESTING METABOLISM OF BEEF COWS

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. YOUNG
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
The Body ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Downward Shift ◽  
Resting Metabolism

Twelve pregnant beef cows in average or fat body condition were overwintered in either heated housing (18 C) or outside and exposed to the naturally occurring cold winter conditions (5 to −10 C during early winter, 0 to −48 C during mid-winter). The housed and half of the outside cows were provided with woodshavings as bedding. In November (early winter) and again in January (mid-winter) metabolic measurements were made on each cow (22 h postfeeding) while exposed to test temperatures of −30, 0 and + 30 C. After adjusting for differences in body weight (kg3/4 basis), metabolic rate was not significantly influenced by either the body condition or by the availability of bedding. Metabolic rates were elevated in all cows when exposed to −30 C but, as evident from the decreases in rectal temperature, the housed cows were unable to maintain homeothermy during the tests at −30 C. Metabolic acclimatization occurred in the cows kept outside resulting in an increased resting metabolism and downward shift in their thermoneutral zone. Resting metabolic rate (22 h postfeeding) and the temperature of its occurrance were estimated by regression analysis to be 3.13 kcal/h.kg3/4 at about 30 C for the housed cows, and for the cows kept outside 3.71 and 4.29 kcal/h.kg3/4 at 17.4 and 12.7 C during early and mid-winter, respectively.

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