Phenotypic study of body condition scores in Canadian dairy cattle

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Moro-Méndez ◽  
R. I. Cue ◽  
H. G. Monardes
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Covariance Structure ◽  
Classification Model ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Close Monitoring ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Body Condition Scores

The objective of this study was to characterize body condition score (BCS) in dairy cattle recorded under commercial conditions in Quebec. There were 354 958 BCS records from Holstein cows and 15 334 records from Ayrshire cows available, from first to fifth parity, recorded by producers using a scale of 1 to 5. A classification model was fitted including fixed effects of herd, year of calving, month of calving, age at calving, and days in milk (DIM); another model substituted the Wilmink function on days in milk to model lactational BCS curves. Both models used the spatial power covariance structure to account for correlation between BCS recorded on the same cow along the lactation and were fitted using the Mixed procedure of SAS software (version 9.1.3). Body condition score was significantly affected by month of calving, age at calving and DIM. Average BCS (SD) for Holstein cows from first to fifth lactation were: 2.95 (0.46), 2.90 (0.53), 2.93 (0.56), 2.94 (0.57), and 2.93 (0.57), respectively; the estimates for Ayrshire cows from first to fifth lactation were: 2.99 (0.47), 3.06 (0.54), 3.15 (0.56), 3.11 (0.57), 3.13 (0.58). Lactation curves for BCS were generated for each breed and parity. The routine collection of BCS in individual cows is recommended to ensure close monitoring of energy balance during the lactation. The BCS information analyzed in this study is suitable for modeling changes throughout the lactation with the application of the Wilmink function. Key words: Body condition score, Canadian dairy cattle

scholarly journals Phenotypic Relationship between Lactation Persistency and Change in Body Condition Score in First-lactation Holstein Cows

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Yamazaki ◽  
Hisato Takeda ◽  
Akiko Nishiura ◽  
Youji Sasai ◽  
Naoko Sugawara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Condition Score

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

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.

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

1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
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.

Relationships between administration of GnRH, body condition score and fertility in Holstein dairy cattle

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 703-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Heuwieser ◽  
J.D. Ferguson ◽  
C.L. Guard ◽  
R.H. Foote ◽  
L.D. Warnick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Condition Score

Lambing season and fertility of fat-tailed ewes under an extensive production system are associated with liveweight and body condition around mating

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Esmailizadeh ◽  
O. Dayani ◽  
M. S. Mokhtari
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Production System ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Breed Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
The Mean ◽  
June July

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.

The effect of pre- and post-partum energy and protein supply on the performance of single- and twin-suckling beef cows and their calves

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Sinclair ◽  
P. J. Broadbent ◽  
J. S. M. Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Energy Intake ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Trial Period ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Daily Milk ◽  
Body Condition Scores

AbstractChanges in live weight, body condition, milk production and composition were monitored for single- and twinsuckling cows in two experiments. In experiment 1, all cows were managed for 3 months before calving to achieve condition scores at calving 2·1 (low) and 3·1 (moderate). Subsequently, these animals were placed on a fixed level of energy intake (80 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per day) for 16 weeks. Post-partum diets contained differing amounts of digestible undegradable protein (DUP), but similar amounts of effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP). In experiment 2, single- and twin-suckling cows were fed to achieve a condition score at calving of around 2·75. These animals were subsequently placed on two levels of energy intake (80 MJ and 130 MJ ME per day) during the first 16 weeks of lactation. The diets providing these energy intakes also contained differing amounts of DUP. Neither the level of DUP in the diet nor the level of feeding significantly altered the digestibility of the dry matter or organic matter in the dry matter of the experimental diets.Body condition at calving had little effect on daily milk yield (9·5 kg) and composition (33·5 g/kg fat; 30-0 g/kg protein) in experiment 1. Cows with higher body condition scores at calving lost 13·5 kg more live weight and 0·26 units more body condition (P < 0·05) during the 1st month post partum but remained in better condition throughout the trial period than cows with lower body condition scores. Cows on 130 MJ ME per day produced higher (P < 0·001) daily yields of milk, milk fat and protein (+2·0 kg; +151 g; +85 g) and lost 57 kg less live weight and 0·52 units less body condition (P < 0·001) than cows on 80 MJ ME per day. Elevated dietary levels of DUP promoted (P < 0·05) daily milk yields (by 1·25 kg) and reduced live-weight and body condition-score loss during the 1st month post partum in both experiments. Twin-suckling cows produced the highest average daily yields of milk throughout the 16-week trial period in both experiments but yields were not significantly higher after early lactation in experiment 1. Cow body condition score at calving and the level of DUP in the post-partum diet of cows had no effect on the post-partum performance of calves. Twin calves had slower growth rates (P < 0·001) than single calves (0·65 and 1·07 kg/day respectively) in experiment 1. However, twin calves sucking cows on 130 MJ ME per day in experiment 2 grew similarly to single sucking calves from week 8 of lactation (0·8 kg/day).

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