Evaluation of the correlation between serum biochemical values and liver ultrasonographic indices in periparturient cows with different body condition scores

ABSTRACTSubjective scoring data may be analysed by ranking methods, ANOVA methods or by inspection of the score distributions. These methods are discussed with particular reference to body condition scores of cows and ewes. A combination of ANOVA and ad hoc inspection was used to analyse data from trials carried out in 1976 to investigate the precision of condition scoring. On the basis of the results, recommendations are made concerning the use of condition scoring on farms and in scoring trials where the object is to monitor assessor bias and inconsistency.

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Comparison of the socio-economic value and welfare of working donkeys in rural and urban Ethiopia

Animal Welfare ◽

10.7120/09627286.30.3.004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 269-277

Author(s):

M Geiger ◽

J Hockenhull ◽

H Buller ◽

M Jemal Kedir ◽

G Tefera Engida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Economic Value ◽

Attitudes And Beliefs ◽

Welfare Work ◽

The People ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Equus Asinus ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

Working Equids ◽

Body Condition Scores

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are widely used throughout Ethiopia and play essential roles in a variety of everyday and income-generating tasks for the people that use them. The challenges faced by people and their working equids vary across communities and geographic locations. This may have implications for how donkeys are perceived by the people they work for, the roles they fulfil and ultimately their welfare. Two complementary methodological approaches were used in this study to explore the socio-economic value of donkeys for their owners and the welfare of the donkeys in rural and urban Ethiopia. Using a questionnaire, donkey owners were asked about their donkeys, their attitudes and beliefs related to donkey use and ownership, and the role donkeys played in their lives. Animal-based welfare assessments were also conducted on a sample of donkeys from different locations, with the overarching aim of the study to investigate differences in use, beliefs, and donkey welfare between rural and urban locations. In both rural and urban locations, working donkeys are critical for their owners' income-generating activity and therefore their livelihoods. The work they undertake differs substantially between locations, as does their welfare. Work in each setting presents its own challenges and these are reflected in the behaviour and physical health of the donkeys. Rural donkeys showed more apathetic behaviour, a higher ectoparasite burden and greater evidence of tethering/hobbling. Urban donkeys were more alert and had a wider range of body condition scores. The findings highlight marked differences in the role and welfare of donkeys between different areas within the same country, demonstrating the importance of understanding the context, both from the perspective of humans and working equids, prior to staging interventions intended to benefit either party.

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PSX-A-6 Late-Breaking: Conventional vs Heritage cattle supplement intake, weight-gains, and body condition scores on Chihuahuan desert pasture

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.687 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 375-376

Author(s):

Matthew M McIntosh ◽

Richard Estell ◽

Andres Cibils ◽

Andrew Cox ◽

Shelemia Nyamuryekung’e ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Chihuahuan Desert ◽

Environmental Footprint ◽

Grazing Impacts ◽

Desert Rangelands ◽

Breed Comparison ◽

Supplement Intake ◽

Body Condition Scores

Abstract Use of adapted beef cattle biotypes is gaining momentum as a novel management strategy for limiting the environmental footprint of ranching and adapting to climate change in the southwest. We compared supplement intake (SI), calf birthweights, cow weights, and body condition scores (BCS) of desert-adapted Brangus (BR; n = 15) vs. Raramuri Criollo (RC; n = 28) cows in four adjacent pastures (1098±85 ha) for three months (Mar 7 – Jun 9, 2020) using ANOVA for a RCBD (significance at P < 0.05). Cows had ad libitum access to 18% crude protein lick tubs in all pastures, which were weighed weekly to determine SI. Brangus cows had greater SI than RC, both overall (BR: 0.21±0.04 vs. RC: 0.08±0.03 kg×cow×d-1) and on a metabolic bodyweight basis (BR: 2.31±0.09 vs. RC: 0.95±0.09 g×kg0.75). All cows were bred to Brangus bulls and calf birth weights were not different between biotypes (BR: 31.5 ± 1.0; RC: 29.6±0.9 kg). Brangus cows weighed more at the beginning (535.0±14.8 kg) and end (582.2±14.5 kg) of the study compared to RC (beginning: 345.5±11.8 kg; end: 357.0±12.0 kg). Percent of bodyweight change was not different between biotypes (BR: 8.51±2.35; RC: 2.85±1.81 %). On a 1 to 5 scale, BCS of Brangus (4.06±0.09) was greater than RC (3.18 ± 0.07) at the onset of the study, but biotypes had similar BCS at the end of the trial (BR: 4.09 ± 0.09; RC: 3.89±0.08). Our preliminary results indicate that lighter RC cows were capable of gaining bodyweight and improving BCS with reduced SI, both overall and on a metabolic bodyweight basis. This finding may reflect lower nutrient requirements, better relative efficiencies and lesser grazing impacts on desert rangelands by RC cattle. Future studies will seek to replicate these breed-comparison trials over multiple years, research sites, and supply chains, with an emphasis on overall systems production efficiency and sustainability.

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Endocrine responses in mares and geldings with high body condition scores grouped by high vs. low resting leptin concentrations1

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/2003.8192311x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 81 (9) ◽

pp. 2311-2321 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

J. A. Cartmill ◽

D. L. Thompson ◽

W. A. Storer ◽

L. R. Gentry ◽

N. K. Huff

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

High Body ◽

Body Condition Scores

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PSII-24 Performance, carcass and meat quality of castrated and intact Dorper lambs slaughtered at different body condition scores

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.301 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 170-171

Author(s):

Edson Luis de A Ribeiro ◽

Francisco Fernandes Jr ◽

Camila Constantino ◽

Fernando Augusto Grandis ◽

Natália Albieri Koritiaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Condition Score ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Daily Gain ◽

Body Condition Scores

Abstract This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the performance, carcass and meat characteristics of castrated and intact Dorper male lambs slaughtered at three different body condition scores. Thirty-five lambs, approximately 3 months old, 21.6 ± 4.0 kg of body weight and 3.1 ± 0.5 of body condition score (BCS), were used. The BCS scale used varied from 1.0 (very thin) to 5.0 (very fat). Four weeks prior to the experiment, 17 lambs were castrated. Lambs were further divided into three groups, according to the criteria for slaughter: BCS of 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. All animals received the same diet. BCS were achieved after 27, 84 and 130 days in feedlot, respectively. There were no interactions (P > 0.05) between sexual conditions and slaughter criteria. Average daily gain of weight (ADG) was different (P < 0.05) for the three BCS (average of 0.263). However, final body weight (28.6 ± 1.7; 42.7 ± 1.8 and 56.8 ± 1.7 kg) and back fat thickness (0.5 ± 0.5; 4.2 ± 0.5 and 7.3 ± 0.5 mm) were different (P < 0.05) among BCS criteria, panelists found that meats from lambs slaughtered with greater fat content were less (P < 0.05) desirable. We can conclude by the performance and meat results that it is better to slaughter Dorper lambs with BCS with no more than 4.0, or 4.2 mm of back fat cover, and for the best acceptability of the meat the lambs should be castrated.

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Dry Matter Intake, Body Weight, and Body Condition Scores of Blanketed and Nonblanketed Horses in the Upper Midwest

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science ◽

10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103239 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 94 ◽

pp. 103239

Author(s):

Michelle DeBoer ◽

Alexandra Konop ◽

Bailey Fisher ◽

Krishona Martinson

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Condition ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Upper Midwest ◽

Body Condition Scores

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Factors influencing individual predicted total dry matter intake of dairy cattle on farms

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200005652 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2001 ◽

pp. 183-183

Author(s):

H.C.F. Wicks ◽

J.D. Leaver

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Milk Production ◽

Body Condition ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Genetic Merit ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Commercial Farms ◽

Autumn And Winter ◽

Body Condition Scores

The aim was to estimate the influence of genetic merit (£PIN95) and level of concentrate feeding (Cgrp) on predicted total dry matter intake (tDMI) of individual cows, using records collected from commercial farms. The method described by Wicks & Leaver (2000) was used to estimate individual daily dry matter intakes from seven farms, totalling 4282 monthly records over a two-year period. The method was based on milk production records supplemented by body condition scores and height at withers, which were used to calculated the ME requirements of individual animals. All the records were collected, from autumn and winter (July to March) calving cows during the housed period (August to March).

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The effect of level of nutrition prior to mating on the reproductive performance of ewes of two welsh breeds in different levels of body condition

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100005791 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 157-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

R. G. Gunn ◽

T. J. Maxwell ◽

D. A. Sim ◽

J. R. Jones ◽

M. E. James

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

High Surface ◽

Live Weight ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Condition Score ◽

Body Condition Scores

ABSTRACTThe effects of high-low (HL) and low-high (LH) patterns of nutrition during the 5 weeks prior to a synchronized mating were studied on the reproductive performance of 115 Welsh Mountain and 114 Brecknock Cheviot ewes in a range of body condition at the start of treatment. For 2 months prior to treatment imposition, ewes were grazed in a systematic way at different stocking rates on different sward heights to obtain a range of body condition scores. Target score groupings were 2·00 to 2·25, 2·50 to 2·75 and 3·00 to 3·25 and although scores of 1·50 to 3·25 were obtained, most lay in the 2·00 to 2·75 range. Two treatment groups, balanced for live weight and body condition score, received high and low levels of nutrition for 16 days from mid October, achieved, respectively, by a low stocking rate on a sward with a high surface height plus ad libitum concentrate and a high stocking rate on a sward with a low surface height plus 200 g hay per head per day. Treatments were then reversed for the 17 days prior to mating. Live-weight and body condition-score changes were recorded and reproductive performance at first mating was measured from counts of corpora lutea and viable embryos at slaughter either at return to service or at 4 weeks after first mating. There were no differences due to nutritional pattern in live weight or body condition score at mating. The LH treatment significantly increased the rates of ovulation, conception, multiple ova survival and potential lambing per ewe pregnant and per ewe mated in the Welsh Mountain breed but significantly increased only the rates of ovulation and potential lambing per ewe pregnant in the Brecknock Cheviot breed compared with the HL treatment. The relatively poorer response in the latter breed was partially due to a lower ovulation rate potential coupled with non-significantly lower rates of conception and survival of single-shed ova associated with the LH treatment. Much of this relatively poorer reproductive performance in the Brecknock Cheviot breed was in ewes with body condition scores 3= 2·75. Reproductive performance increased with increasing body condition at the start of treatment over the range of scores =≤ 2·25 to 2·50 in both breeds and, while continuing to improve in scores above 2·50 in the Welsh Mountain breed, in the Brecknock Cheviot breed it started to decline. Ewes with a body condition score of 2·50 in both breeds showed the greatest response in potential lambing rate to the LH treatment.

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