scholarly journals PSI-38 Relationship between body condition score, claw set, and foot angle in Angus and Red Angus beef cows grazing native annual-grass rangeland in northern California

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 474-474
Author(s):  
Megan R Banwarth ◽  
Kasey DeAtley ◽  
Stephen Doyle

Abstract Evaluating the structure of beef cows, especially when replacement females are being selected, has great emphasis on production goals, particularly longevity of the female. Two structure traits that are important when evaluating beef cattle are claw set and foot angle, yet the relationship between body condition scores (BCS), claw set, foot angle and year of age has not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between BCS, claw set and foot angle in Angus (n = 40) and Red Angus (n = 19) beef cows grazing irrigated pasture and annual-grass rangeland in northern California. Traits were collected 44 d post-weaning and included BCS, claw set, and foot angle. Claw set and foot angle were collected using the scale of the American Angus Association (e.g., scale = 1–9). Spring-calving beef cows were under similar management. At time of trait collection cows were grazing irrigated pasture (CP: 38%, and NDF: 49.2%, on a DM basis). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Fixed effects were claw set, foot angle and breed, and respective interactions. Body condition score was related to foot angle scores (r = 0.38; P < 0.01). Claw set was related to foot angle scores (r = 0.30; P < 0.05). Results showed BCS was not different among breeds, claw set, or year of age (P > 0.05). No relationship was detected among BCS and claw set. Interaction terms were not significant (P > 0.05). Cows with acceptable foot angle had lower BCS than unacceptable cows (5.86 ± 0.15 vs. 6.72 ± 0.21 BCS). Results indicate that BCS and foot angle are related. Further research to investigate effect of BCS on differences of foot angle is warranted.

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 741-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Carlos Ferrugem Moraes ◽  
Carlos Miguel Jaume ◽  
Carlos José Hoff de Souza

The relationship between changes in body condition score (BCS) during the postpartum and fertility in beef cows suckling calves under extensive conditions were investigated. Cows were subjected to four BCS evaluations over the postpartum period, starting around one month after calving. In the second evaluation cows were treated with medroxy-progesterone acetate impregnated pessaries and received an injection of estradiol benzoate. At the third evaluation, pessaries were removed and calves were separated from the cows for 96 hours, during which time estrous was observed twice a day, and animals artificially inseminated 12 hours after detection. When calves returned to their dams, bulls were introduced until a 60-day mating period was reached. The distribution of BCS differed among calving groups and evaluations. Results indicated that only cows comprising a BCS 3 (1 to 5 scale) around the first month postpartum can be used in an artificial insemination program with possibilities of becoming pregnant. There was no statistical difference between the calving groups in pregnancy rate. The evolution of the BCS of the cows during postpartum can be used to adjust the start of the breeding season to coincide with the time of the year where herd pregnancy rates will be highest.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
Stephen M Lira ◽  
Jon T Biermacher ◽  
Evan Whitley ◽  
Devlon Ford

Abstract Open beef cows account for between 15 and 30% of a spring-calving cow/calf operation’s annual revenue; however, most producers commonly sell open cows at weaning when prices are at a seasonal low. A three-year (2015–2018) study was conducted using open beef cows (n = 244) from a spring-calving herd in south-central Oklahoma. The objective of the study was to determine whether or not the net return of retaining, feeding, rebreeding, and marketing rebred cows was greater than the revenue from selling open cows at weaning. Each year at weaning, open cows were sorted into Thin or Moderate groups using an average threeman Body Condition Score (BCS). Thin cows (BCS < 5.5) received a ration of 11.4% CP and 63.9% TDN, while Moderate cows (5.5 ≤ BCS ≤ 6.0) received 10.4% CP and 55.2% TDN. Rations were formulated to transform the final condition of all cattle to a BCS of 6. Two rested bulls were assigned to each feeding group during the first 60 days of retention. After 90 days of retention all cattle were pregnancy tested via ultrasound. Enterprise budgeting techniques were used to calculate revenue, costs, and net return for each cow. Mixed effects (ANOVA) models using the Mixed Procedure in SAS were used to determine the fixed effects of feeding treatment, age, pregnancy status, and market type on ending weight and BCS and net return. Year and individual animal were tested and treated as random for each model analyzed. On average, net return was affected by feeding treatment (P = 0.0323), age (P < 0.0001), and pregnancy status (P < 0.0001). The results suggest that producers who have the ability to sort and feed young, thin cows in poorer condition and rebreed them using rested bulls can expect to earn $68/head more than selling them as open at weaning


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Michaela Kranepuhl ◽  
Detlef May ◽  
Edna Hillmann ◽  
Lorenz Gygax

Abstract This research communication describes the relationship between the occurrence of lameness and body condition score (BCS) in a sample of 288 cows from a single farm that were repeatedly scored in the course of 9 months while controlling for confounding variables. The relationship between BCS and lameness was evaluated using generalised linear mixed-effects models. It was found that the proportion of lame cows was higher with decreasing but also with increasing BCS, increased with lactation number and decreased with time since the last claw trimming. This is likely to reflect the importance of sufficient body condition in the prevention of lameness but also raises the question of the impact of overcondition on lameness and the influence of claw trimming events on the assessment of lameness. A stronger focus on BCS might allow improved management of lameness that is still one of the major problems in housed cows.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 3-3
Author(s):  
Lindsey G Wichman ◽  
Colby A Redifer ◽  
Natalie B Duncan ◽  
Craig A Payne ◽  
Allison M Meyer

Abstract To determine effects of cow BCS and calving season on calf vigor and size and the relationship of calf size with vigor, 310 multiparous and primiparous beef cows (age: 4.6 ± 2.2 yr; BW: 663 ± 86 kg; BCS: 5.3 ± 0.6) from 3 spring (2015, 2016, 2017) and 4 fall (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) calving seasons were observed during parturition. Time to stand (n = 191) was determined as minutes from birth to standing successfully for 5 sec. Within 24 h, calf BW (n = 187) and size [shoulder to tailhead length (STL), heart girth (HG), and abdominal girth (AG; n = 154)] were recorded. Data were analyzed using a mixed model containing effects of calving season (spring and fall), BCS category (&lt; 5, =5, ≥6), and their interaction. Correlations were determined between time to stand and calf measurements separately for spring (n = 79) versus fall (n = 111). Cows with BCS &lt; 5 gave birth to lighter (P = 0.02) calves that tended to have a faster (P ≤ 0.13) time to stand than =5 and ≥6. Calves from cows with BCS ≥6 tended to have greater (P ≤ 0.09) STL than =5 and &lt; 5. Calves from cows with BCS &lt; 5 had smaller (P = 0.13) HG than =5. Fall-born calves tended to have smaller (P ≤ 0.06) BW, HG, and AG than spring-born calves. Within fall calves, there tended to be a positive relationship (r = 0.16; P = 0.09) between time to stand and calf BW. Despite this, spring calves had a negative relationship (r = -0.26; P = 0.02) between time to stand and calf BW. In conclusion, cow BCS and calving season affect calf size and may affect calf vigor. These data suggest that calving season may dictate the relationship between calf vigor and size.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín Claramunt ◽  
Andrea Fernández-Foren ◽  
Pablo Soca

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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 2052-2057
Author(s):  
Luiz Fernando Rapp de Oliveira Pimentel ◽  
André Luis do Valle De Zoppa

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between occlusal and clinical parameters and the need for incisor shortening in horses. It was based on the retrospective analysis of the dental charts of 75 confined horses. Body condition score, shape of incisors, presence of dysmastication, excursion to molar contact (EMC) distance before and after cheek teeth occlusal adjustment were evaluated. History of difficult to riding, dysmastication and digestive problems was also considered. The initial measurement of lateral excursion to molar contact (EMC) revealed incisor occlusal surface abnormalities in 45 (60%) horses and long incisors (EMC>15mm) in five (6.6%) horses. Considering clinical examination and history data the need for reduction of incisor length was significant when EMC exceeded 15mm (P<0.0001) and when based on dental shape, clinical history of dysmastication and/or digestive problems or body condition score was also significant (P<0.05). In confined horses, the decision to shorten and align the incisor teeth should be based on observation and history of dysmastication and digestive problems, body condition score, incisors shape and EMC distance. The need for incisor reduction should be determined before dental intervention and reassessed following cheek teeth oclusal adjustment


2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Esmailizadeh ◽  
O. Dayani ◽  
M. S. Mokhtari

The objective of this study was to investigate to what extent fertility and lambing season of fat-tailed ewes raised under an extensive production system are related to liveweight, body condition and changes around mating. Ewe liveweight and body condition score (BSC) were recorded in June, July and August over a period of 3 years (1999–2001) in 11 flocks (eight flocks of Kurdi breed and three flocks of Kurdi × Sanjabi crossbred). Both Kurdi and Sanjabi are native fat-tailed breeds in western Iran. In total, 3278 lambing records relating to 1592 ewes and data on mating date, liveweight and BCS of 1930 ewes (3975 records) were used for statistical analyses. The statistical model for bodyweight and body condition data included fixed effects of breed group, flock nested within breed group, year, the future lambing status following summer breeding (barren, autumn lambing and winter lambing), ewe age and all two-way interactions. Breed group had a significant effect on ewe liveweight (P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between BCS of the two breed groups around mating. Ewe liveweights measured in June, July and August had significant effects on fertility and lambing season (P < 0.01). Ewes that produced lambs were generally heavier at mating than barren ewes (P < 0.01). Autumn-lambing ewes were heavier than winter-lambing ewes in June and July (P < 0.01). Effects of changes in liveweight on fertility and lambing season were significant (P < 0.01). The effects of BCS in June, July and August (P < 0.01) and changes in BCS during the mating period (P < 0.05) on fertility and lambing season were also significant. The mean BCS (in June and July) of autumn-lambing ewes was greater than that of the winter-lambing and barren ewes (P < 0.05). The proportion of autumn-lambing ewes significantly increased as BCS in July increased, whereas the proportion of barren ewes decreased (P < 0.01). Fertility was associated with age so that as the age of the ewes increased from 2 to 7 years, the proportion of barren ewes significantly decreased from 29 to 5% (P < 0.01). There was a relatively high proportion of very thin ewes of 2 and 3 years of age. These findings imply that low body condition is a particular problem in younger ewes suggesting the importance of giving special nutritional treatment to younger ewes to reduce the proportion of barren ewes.


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