Development of the body condition score system in Murrah buffaloes: validation through ultrasonic assessment of body fat reserves

Abstract

The body condition score (BCS) system is a subjective scoring method of evaluating the energy reserves of dairy animals to provide better understanding of biological relationships between body fat, milk production and reproduction. This method helps in adopting the optimum management practices to derive maximum production and maintain optimum health of the livestock. In this study, a new BCS system was developed for Murrah buffaloes. The skeletal check points were identified by studying the anatomical features and amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. The scores were assigned from 1 to 5 based on the amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. A score of 1 represents least and 5 represents most amount of fat. The skeletal check points identified were ordered based on the amount of carcass fat reserves and scores assigned to prepare a preliminary BCS chart on a 1 to 5 scale at 0.25 increments. The BCS chart was further modified by eliminating the skeletal check points at which the fat reserves were less evident on palpation in most of the buffaloes and a new BCS chart on a 1 to 5 scale at 0.5 increments examining eight skeletal check points was developed. The new BCS system developed was tested for precision in 10 buffaloes for each point of the 1-5 scale by ultrasonographic measurements of body fat reserves. Ultrasonographic measurements showed that as the BCS increased, the amount of fat reserves also increased (p < 0.01), indicating that the BCS adequately reflected the amount of actual fat reserves. BCS was significantly correlated (r = 0.860) with the carcass fat reserves as well as the ultrasonographic fat reserves (r = 0.854).

Preovulatory Follicular and Subsequent Luteal Size Influence Pregnancy Success in Water Buffaloes

“…Body condition was evaluated and scored on a scale from 1 to 5 in 0.5 increments according to the method described previously [9]. Briefly a BCS of 1 stands for emaciated animals; a BCS of 2 indicates a dorsal spine that is pointed to the touch, with the hips, pins, tailhead and ribs being prominent, usually individually; a BCS of 3 represents those buffaloes whose ribs are usually visible, with little fat cover, and dorsal spines are barely visible; a BCS of 4 is for animal that are smooth and well covered, but with no marked fat deposits; and a BCS of 5 is for heavy deposits of fat clearly visible on the tailhead and brisket, with the dorsal spines, ribs, hooks and pins fully covered and unable to be felt even with firm pressure.…”

Post-partum reproductive activity and estrus synchronization responsiveness in anglonubian x sprd fed with dried carnauba wax palm fruit (Copernicia prunifera) long term

“…Simultaneously, the subcutaneous sternal adipose tissue (SSCFT) decreased more quickly in the CWP group compared to the WCWP group (P < 0.01, Table 3). The adipose tissue measured ultrasonographically is correlated with total body fat reserves (ALAPATI et al, 2010), and the sternal region is the most reliable location for evaluation in goats (TEIXEIRA et al, 2008).…”

Development of an index based on ultrasonographic measurements for the objective appraisal of body condition in Andalusian horses

“…Otherwise, ultrasonography has demonstrated to be an accepted method for measuring fat reserves in farm species (Silva & Cadavez, 2012) and equids (Gentry et al, 2004) due to its objectivity, repeatability of the technique (Martin-Gimenez et al, 2016), low cost and the possibility of being used in field conditions (Quaresma et al, 2013). Thus, in many species, ultrasonography has also been utilized to validate the condition scoring process (Domecq et al, 1994;Gentry et al, 2004;Alapati et al, 2010;Morfeld et al, 2014) and/or to predict the total fat content using mathematical equations that frequently include some SFT measurement (Westervelt et al, 1976;Kane et al, 1987;Stephenson et al, 1998). Conversely, in this case the ultrasonography was used to create a new objective scoring system.…”