scholarly journals Patterns of body condition use and its impact on fertility

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Savietto ◽  
S. Marono ◽  
I. Martínez ◽  
E. Martínez-Paredes ◽  
L. Ródenas ◽  
...  

<p>A total of 60 nulliparous crossbred rabbit females were, a posteriori, divided into 2 experimental groups according to their natural “decision” to conceive or not at day 11 post first parturition (L: solely-lactating or LP: lactating-pregnant). This design allowed us to study the evolution of body reserves around first parturition and its influence on the future reproductive success of rabbit females. Primiparous rabbit females that failed to conceive when inseminated at day 11 post-partum (L) seemed to have a higher perirenal fat thickness (PFT) 12 d pre-partum (+0.25 mm; P=0.079) than females that conceived (LP). In the subsequent days, L females showed a significantly higher mobilisation rate than LP females (on av.–0.12 and –0.07 mm of PFT per day, respectively; P=0.007), reaching a lower PFT at partum (5.17 mm vs. 5.62 mm, respectively; P = 0.002). However, due to a greater recovery rate observed in L females (+0.15 vs. +0.08 mm of PFT per day for L and LP females, respectively; P=0.007), PFT at 10 d post-partum was similar (on av. 5.86 mm). These different patterns showed that PFT level at 12 d pre-partum and PFT mobilisation rate onwards seems to drive the start of a new pregnancy. It also seems to modify the energy metabolism of rabbit females, allowing does to recover perirenal fat tissue without compromising the production of milk necessary for the current litter.</p>

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Wilhelm ◽  
Jürgen Wilhelm ◽  
Manfred Fürll

The present study investigated whether changes of energy metabolism post-partum (pp) are associated with claw health. For this purpose, back-fat-thickness (BFT) was measured and blood samples were taken from 146 cows at four examination times. The serum levels of free fatty acids (FFA), ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and glucose were measured. Furthermore, in the first week postpartum (pp) and at 8 weeks pp, a claw trimming was done and the presence and extent of sole haemorrhages (SH) was recorded. Animals with high BFT at calving and therefore high fat mobilisation and whose FFA and BHB levels in the first week pp exceeded the reference values had fewer pathological changes of the claws than thinner animals whose FFA and BHB levels stayed within reference ranges. The body condition before calving, represented in this study by BFT, plays an important role in non-infectious claw disorders. Poorer body condition was found to be associated with the SH that develop in the first 2 months of lactation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Pascual ◽  
F. Castella ◽  
C. Cervera ◽  
E. Blas ◽  
J. Fernández-Carmona

AbstractForty-two New-Zealand x Californian young female rabbits of 4·5 months of age were used to evaluate the use o f a computerized ultrasound system in estimating changes in body condition. In order to get a wide range of fatness, animals were randomly subjected to four food restriction regimes for 2 weeks. Female rabbits were scanned at six different back sites to estimate perirenal fat thickness, using a real-time ultrasound unit equipped with a 5·0-MHz sector probe. After scanning, all animals were weighed and slaughtered. The weights of hot carcass, cold carcass, perirenal fat, scapular fat, liver and kidneys were recorded. There was a large variation in the weight of the main fat deposits, especially for the perirenal fat (CV = 0·632), indicating its suitability for estimating changes in body condition. Ultrasound measurements of perirenal fat thickness correlated strongly with all carcass fat weight values (r= 0·692 to 0·959;P< 0·001) and the estimated carcass energy content (r= 0·777 to 0·866;P< 0·001) and seem to be more precise predictors than live weight measurements. Multiple regression equations for estimating the main fat deposit weight and estimated carcass energy content using only the live weight as an independent variable hadR2values ranging from 0·47 to 0·59. The accuracy of estimates was improved when ultrasound measurements were used in the regression model (R2values ranging from 0·81 to 0·95). Ultrasound measurement of mean perirenal fat deposit thickness at 3 cm ahead of the 2ndto 3rdlumbar vertebrae was the best predictor for perirenal fat weight (R2= 0·95;P< 0·001), total fat weight (R2= 0·93;P< 0·001) and estimated carcass energy content (R2= 0·90;P< 0·001). A validation group of 11 rabbit does was used to validate the ultrasound regression equations, showing that their mean accuracy was approximately 0·895 and 0·967 for total fat weight and estimated carcass energy content, respectively. Results suggest that ultrasound measurements of perirenal fat thickness may be an accurate method for studying changes in body condition of young female rabbits at different times.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Naturil-Alfonso ◽  
F. Marco-Jiménez ◽  
J.J. Pascual ◽  
J.S. Vicente

Young rabbit females selected for growth rate can have nutritional needs which may not be met by the common practice of feed restriction during rearing in commercial rabbit production. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of two different feeding programmes: restricted and ad libitum feeding, applied in young rabbit females for one month at the end of rearing, on reproductive performance, body condition and circulating metabolic hormones and metabolites in a rabbit line selected by growth rate in 3 consecutive reproductive cycles. Thus, twenty-four 16-week-old does were randomly assigned to a group in which the daily recommended nutrient intakes were satisfied (fed restricted: 130 g/day, n=13) or a group fed to satiety (ad libitum: 235.5 g/day, n=11) during one month. Then, all does were inseminated in 3 consecutive cycles using a 42-day reproductive cycle. Measurements of does’ body weight, perirenal fat thickness and plasma leptin, non-esterified-fatty-acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) and fructosamine were performed at artificial insemination (AI), parturition and weaning time in 3 consecutive cycles. Reproductive performance of does was evaluated based on fertility, litter size at parturition, prolificacy and productivity. Differences in body weight were found only in the 1<sup>st</sup> cycle, ad libitum fed females being heavier than restricted ones. Nevertheless, body weight variances disappeared in later cycles. No differences were found in perirenal fat thickness. Finally, in ad libitum fed females slight differences were found in plasma levels of NEFAs (452 vs. 258 μekv/L and 527 vs. 306 μekv/L for 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> cycles) and BOHB (0.26 vs. 0.03 mM for 2<sup>nd</sup> cycle), but disappeared in the 3<sup>rd</sup> reproductive cycle. Fertility, prolificacy and productivity was not significantly affected by the feeding programme. Nevertheless, total litter size showed to be higher in ad libitum fed females at second parturition (8.7 vs. 5.9 kits). Therefore, the evaluated feeding programmes until first AI in females selected by growth rate had no effect on their reproductive outcomes, as the global reproductive performance was not affected.


1997 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Mukasa-Mugerwa ◽  
D. Anindo ◽  
A. Lahlou-Kassi ◽  
N. N. Umunna ◽  
A. Tegegne

AbstractForty-five Bos indicus (zebu) cows were blocked by body condition (BC) score at calving and allocated by body weight (BW) to three treatments: untreated controls (CON), and progesterone-releasing intra-vaginal device (PRID)-treated at either 45 (T45) or 60 days (T60) post partum. Cows were given food individually and blood-sampled three times a week for progesterone. Calves sucked twice a day and were weighed weekly. PRIDs resulted in only 21% of cows responding at 60 days and they did not reduce anoestrus (PPI) or calving interval (CI) (P > 0·05). Dry matter (DM) and metabolizable energy (ME) intake were 7·1 (s.e. 0·6) kg and 54·3 (s.e. 4·6) MJ/day, respectively. BC score and BW at calving, and ME intake influenced cow and calf average daily gain ranging from −580 to 625 and 331 to 868 g/day, respectively. Milk yield during the first 4 months was 507 (s.e. 97) l. Cows gained 25 kg per unit increase in condition but lost 50 kg for a unit decline. CI (mean 14·2, range 10 to 24 months) was inversely related to BC score at calving (r = −0·31) and was delayed by a long PPI (r = 0·51), ranging from 38 to 297 days. Most (95%) cows experienced one or more ‘silent ovulations’ before first oestrus, the number extending PPI length (r = 0·49, P < 0·001). Efficiency of ME utilization was higher for smaller cows of 240 (s.e. 28) kg at calving. It is concluded that: (1) PRID treatment before 60 days post partum is unlikely to reduce anoestrus in Boran zebu cattle; (2) given adequate energy intake zebu cattle in thin condition at calving initially replenish body reserves at the cost of lactation and experience more ‘silent’ ovarian activity before returning to oestrus; (3) cows in good condition at calving express maximum lactation potential, mobilizing their own body reserves to support milk production, yet resume oestrous activity earlier despite weight losses to support higher milk yields.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 695-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Mendizabal ◽  
R. Delfa ◽  
A. Arana ◽  
P. Eguinoa ◽  
C. González ◽  
...  

Four pre-slaughter measurements, liveweight (LW), body condition score (BCS) and fat thickness, measured by ultrasound, in the lumbar (FTL) and sternal regions (FTS), and four post-slaughter measurements, empty liveweight (ELW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and diameter of adipocytes in subcutaneous (DSC) and omental (DOM) fat depots¸ were used to predict the weight of fat in the omental (OM), mesenteric (MES), perirenal (PR), subcutaneous (SC) and intermuscular (IM) depots of ewes. Linear and multiple regressions were fitted to data from 42 adult, non-pregnant and non-lactating Rasa Aragonesa ewes, with liveweights between 29.8 and 79.2 kg and body condition scores between 0.75 and 4.5. Using a single parameter, ELW and HCW gave the most accurate predictions of the total depot fat (R2 = 0.88 and 0.90, RSD = 1.571 and 1.484 kg, respectively). Multiple regressions predicted total weight of fat depots from the pre-slaughter variables LW, BCS and FTS with an R2 value of 0.92 (RSD=1.317 kg). This result confirms the utility of using in vivo measures as fat reserve predictors in Rasa Aragonesa ewes. Key words: Fat tissue, liveweight, body condition score, adipocytes, ultrasound, ewes


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
E.W. Calle ◽  
M.L. García ◽  
A. Blasco ◽  
M.J. Argente

<p>The present work was performed to examine the relationships between measures of body condition and energy mobilization in rabbit does. The variables studied were body weight (BW), perirenal fat thickness (PFT), basal non-esterified fatty acid concentration (NEFA<sub>b</sub>) and non-esterified fatty acids after lipolysis stimulation by isoproterenol (NEFA<sub>r</sub>). The effect of time of measuring (at mating, delivery and 10 d after delivery) was estimated in 157 primiparous does. Correlations between body condition components were estimated and a principal component analysis performed. The does decreased BW (6%) and PFT (3%), and increased NEFA<sub>b</sub> (25%) and NEFA<sub>r</sub> (16%) from mating to delivery. Later, NEFA<sub>b</sub> and NEFA<sub>r</sub> decreased around 20% from delivery to 10 d after delivery without changing perirenal fat thickness. All BW and PFT lay in the first principal component, and all NEFA traits lay in the second component, showing low correlations with body condition measurements. Both NEFA traits showed high positive correlations when measured at the same time (0.65, 0.72 and 0.69), but low correlations when measured at different times (0.09, to 0.20). We conclude that although body weight and perirenal fat thickness are good predictors of body condition, NEFA should be used when an accurate measurement of energetic mobilization is needed, due to their low correlation.</p>


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
María-Luz García ◽  
Raquel Muelas ◽  
María-José Argente ◽  
Rosa Peiró

This study evaluated the relationship between prenatal characteristics and body condition and endocrine profile. A total of 25 non-lactating multiparous females were used. Body condition, measured as body weight and perirenal fat thickness, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), leptin, progesterone and 17β-estradiol were recorded at mating and 12 d of gestation. Ovulation rate, number of foetuses, ovary and foetal weight, length and weight of uterine horn, available space per foetus and maternal and foetal placental morphometry were recorded at 12 d of gestation. Ovulation rate showed a positive linear relationship with number of foetuses, ovary weight and NEFA. A negative linear relationship between ovulation rate and perirenal fat thickness and leptin was obtained. Ovulation rate was maximum when body weight and 17β-estradiol were 4.4 kg and 22.7 pg/mL, respectively. Foetal weight showed a positive relationship with perirenal fat thickness and a negative relationship with leptin. An increase in progesterone and NEFA concentration was related to a positive linear increase in number of foetuses and in uterine horn weight. Space available per foetus was affected both by the number of vessels that reach the implantation site and by position of the foetus in the uterine horn. In conclusion, body condition during mating and early gestation should be maintained within an optimal range to ensure the best prenatal characteristics. While 17β-estradiol, NEFA and leptin affected the ovulation rate, progesterone and NEFA affected foetal development. The number of vessels that reach the implantation site determines early foetal survival.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Ramūnas Antanaitis ◽  
Vida Juozaitienė ◽  
Dovilė Malašauskienė ◽  
Mindaugas Televičius ◽  
Mingaudas Urbutis ◽  
...  

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.


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