Estimating body condition in the mountain brushtail possum, Trichosurus caninus

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 499 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Viggers ◽  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
R. B. Cunningham ◽  
C. F. Donnelly
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Isotopic Dilution ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Water Composition ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Condition Indices

Two methods of assessing body condition were examined for the mountain brushtail possum, Trichosurus caninus (Ogilby) at a single study site in central Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Condition indices were derived from measures of skeletal size and body mass, and body water composition was determined using isotopic dilution of tritiated water to give an estimate of total body water space. There were significant negative relationships between body water composition and the condition indices for body length, total length and pes length. Body water composition of T. caninus was significantly higher in spring than in winter, and those animals with higher body water composition had lower absolute neutrophil counts and higher urea values. The relative usefulness of the two methods used for estimating body condition in T. caninus is discussed.

A comparison of techniques used to estimate body condition of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Tierney ◽  
Mark Hindell ◽  
Mary-Anne Lea ◽  
Dominic Tollit
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Bioelectrical Impedance ◽  
Impedance Analysis ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Comparison Of Techniques ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Condition Indices

The total body water (TBW) and body condition of 86 female southern elephant seals was estimated from tritiated water (HTO) dilution space analysis. HTO blood samples were analysed using two distillation methods (direct serum counts and evaporative freeze capture) that yielded significantly different estimates. Evaporative freeze capture is recommended for use because it is faster, cheaper, and provides a more precise TBW estimate of dilution space. Estimates of TBW were then compared with those derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and morphometric models. There were significant, positive relationships between TBW and BIA variables, but the level of accuracy was inadequate for BIA to be more useful than the other methods trialled. Morphometric models accurately estimated TBW (kg). Models developed from surface area (SA) (TBW = [SA * 82.58] – 86.94) and from a combination of mass (M), length (L), and girth (G) (TBW = [(M * 0.72) + (L * 5.49) + (G * 134.94) + 164.36)] provided the most accurate TBW estimates. In contrast, condition indices did not give accurate or reliable estimates of relative body condition.

Prediction of body composition in live sheep

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 825 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Donnelly ◽  
M Freer
Keyword(s):  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Future Work

New and published data on the chemical composition of 149 Merino and Merino crossbred sheep covering a wide range of age were used to derive regressions of body water, protein, ash and fat on parameters measured in the live animal. Allometric models were tested with fasted liveweight (W), tritiated water space (T) and maturity (M) as predictors, maturity being the age of the sheep as a proportion of the age at which mature size is reached. For all body components the inclusion of maturity in the following equations substantially reduced the residual standard deviation (RSD), compared with allometric or multiple linear regression models that included only W and T as predictors. In addition it largely eliminated bias from the predicted values for the six separate groups of sheep from which the data were obtained. Total body water (kg) = 1.179T0.926M0.031 (RSD = ?0.354) Protein in empty body (kg) = 0.408 W0.708M0.092 (RSD = ? 0.264) Ash in empty body (kg) = 0.305 W0.460M0.290 (RSD = ? 0.100) Fat in empty body (kg) = 0.117(W – T)1.592M-0.225 (RSD = ? 0.444) It is suggested that in future work a measure of skeletal size in the live animal may increase the precision of these equations.

Estimation of water content by tritium dilution of animals subjected to rapid live-weight changes

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. McManus ◽  
R. K. Prichard ◽  
Carolyn Baker ◽  
M. V. Petruchenia
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Under Nutrition ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Total Body

SUMMARYThe use of tritiated water to estimate total body-water content of animals experiencing recovery from under-nutrition was studied.The time for equilibration of tritiated water (TOH), given intraperitoneally, with total body water (TBW) was determined in rabbits and in rats. As judged by the specific activity of blood water, equilibration had occurred by 76–125 min in the rabbit and did not appear to be affected by the plane of nutrition. However, between slaughter groups the specific activity of water obtained from the liver 180 min after injection of TOH was significantly different from the specific activity of water simultaneously obtained from the blood plasma. It is concluded that the liver is not a suitable tissue to use for testing achievement of equilibration.As judged by the specific activity of blood water compared to that of water from the whole body macerate, equilibration in mature rats either in stable body condition or undergoing rapid compensatory growth occurred in less than 60 min.A trial comparing TOH-space (corrected by 3% body weight) and actual TBW (by desiccation) was conducted on thirty rabbits which experienced under-nutrition followed by compensatory growth.Prior to under-nutrition the agreement between actual and estimated TBW was satisfactory and within 2·3%. During compensatory growth the agreement was poor— the TOH values over-estimating actual TBW by about 12%.A trial with mature rats confirmed the findings with rabbits. For rats in stable body weight the mean estimated TOH-space for fourteen animals was within 1·2% of the actual TBW. For fourteen rats undergoing compensatory growth the mean estimated TOH-space (corrected by 3% body weight) overestimated actual TBW by 6·2%.

Accuracy of the tritium water dilution method for determining water flux in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 857-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Cameron ◽  
R. G. White ◽  
J. R. Luick
Keyword(s):  
Total Body Water ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Water Dilution

The accuracy of the tritium water dilution method in estimating water flux was evaluated in reindeer under various conditions of temperature and diet. Two non-pregnant female reindeer were restrained in metabolism stalls, within controlled-environment chambers, at temperatures of + 10, −5, and −20 °C; varying amounts of a commercial pelleted ration (crude protein, 13%) or mixed lichens (crude protein, 3%) were offered, and water was provided ad libitum either as snow or in liquid form. Total body water volume and water turnover were estimated using tritiated water, and the daily outputs of feces and urine were measured for each of 12 different combinations of diet and temperature. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the tritium water dilution technique gives accurate determinations of total body water flux over a wide range of environmental and nutritional conditions.

Body composition in vivo. II. The composition of mature goats and its relationship to the antipyrine, tritiated water, and N-acetyl-4-aminoantipyrine spaces

1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 926 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Panaretto ◽  
AR Till
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Total Body

The antipyrine, tritiated water, and N-acetyl-4-aminoantipyrine spaces were determined simultaneously in goats which had been deprived of feed and water for 48 hr. The animals were then killed, minced, and analysed for water, fat, protein, and ash contents. The compositions of the whole and empty bodies of the goats were calculated, and the relationships between the bodily components were compared with those reported for cattle, sheep, and some monogastric species. The relationships found between the components of the whole bodies compared favourably with those derived from the empty bodies. The relationships of the spaces determined in vivo to total body water, fat, and protein were found, and confidence statements were placed on predicted estimates.

scholarly journals The prediction of body composition in poultry by estimation in vivo of total body water with tritiated water and deuterium oxide

1988 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Johnson ◽  
D. J. Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Isotope Dilution ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Deuterium Oxide ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Total Body

1. Birds (n169) which varied in age, live weight, nutritional history, physiological state and genotype were slaughtered and analysed for total body water. Before slaughter, birds were injected with the water isotopes tritiated water (TOH) or deuterium oxide (D2O), or both, to determine TOH space or D2O space, or both, as estimates of total body water in vivo.2. At the mean total body water of all birds determined by desiccation, of 1096·4 (SD 424·1) g, TOH space and D2O space overestimated total body water by 10·4 and 8·5 % respectively. The difference between the isotopes was significant (P< 0·05).3. Based on recovery of isotope it was postulated that the main reason for the observed overestimation of total body water in vivo was incomplete recovery of isotope due to the vacuum sublimation technique. The mean recovery (%) of added isotope to whole blood after vacuum sublimation was 93·0 (SD 2·6) and 92·4 (SD 5·5) of the theoretical concentrations of TOH and D2O respectively.4. Nevertheless, accurate prediction of total body water was obtained from regression equations which included live weight and isotope-dilution space. Values required logarithmic (base 10) transformation before derivation of linear and multiple linear regression equations, and the precision of prediction was determined by the residual standard deviation (RSD).5. Total body water could be predicted with nearly equal accuracy from live weight or isotope-dilution space (RSD 0·025 and 0·020 respectively). Prediction of carcass protein was more accurate from live weight (RSD 0·033) than from TOH space (RSD 0·036), and inclusion of both variables resulted in only a marginal decrease in RSD to 0·031.6. The prediction of carcass fat and energy was markedly improved by the inclusion of isotope-dilution space in conjunction with live weight compared with live weight alone.7. The relations show the developmental nature of body composition of domestic fowl given diets adequate in nutrients. The prediction equations demonstrate the precision possible for studies in which estimates of body composition in poultry are required without slaughter.

Estimation of body water and fat in cattle using tritiated water space and live weight with particular reference to the influence of breed

1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. N. Chigaru ◽  
D. H. Holness
Keyword(s):  
Body Fat ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
Body Water ◽  
The Body ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Complete Diet ◽  
Total Body

SUMMARYThe body composition of 18 each of Mashona, Afrikaner and Hereford heifers was measured at the beginning and after 16 and 32 weeks of the experiment. The heifers not slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment were fed a complete diet containing 132 g crude protein and 12·0 MJ metabolizable energy/kg dry matter. Before slaughter, the animals were deprived of food and water for 24 h. Each animal was infused with 1 mCi of tritiated water (TOH) in order to measure total body water (TBW) and to estimate body fat.The growth rate of the three breeds of heifers was similar despite differences in age and initial live weight. Both TBW and fat proportions, however, differed significantly (P < 0·01) between slaughter stages for each breed and between breeds at each slaughter stage. At the first, second and final slaughter stages the proportions of TBW were: 68·0, 59·4 and 54·5% for Mashona; 70·;5, 64·3 and 58·3% for Afrikaner and 65·3, 57·6 and 46·2% for Hereford heifers respectively. The corresponding proportions of body fat were: 10·2, 18·4 and 24·2% for Mashona; 6·6, 12·0 and 20·0% for Afrikaner and 13·7, 20·8 and 25·8% for Hereford heifers respectively.There was a close relation between empty body weight and live weight at slaughter which was not influenced by breed. Both TBW and fat were estimated more accurately when TOH space and live weight were used jointly. However, the slopes of the prediction equations for each breed were significantly different (P < 0·05) in the case of both total body water and fat. It was necessary to use separate equations for each breed in order to predict either body water or fat. The significance of these findings for the estimation of body fat in live cattle is discussed.

A two-pool model of tritiated water kinetics to predict body composition in unfasted lactating goats

1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Dunshea ◽  
A. W. Bell ◽  
K. D. Chandler ◽  
T. E. Trigg
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Lactating Goats ◽  
Pool Model ◽  
Total Body

ABSTRACTA two-pool model of tritiated water kinetics was investigated as a means of partitioning total body water into empty body water and gut water in 17 lactating goats. Empty body water, gut water and total body water were of a similar magnitude to, and highly correlated with, a rapidly equilibrating tritiated water pool, a more slowly equilibrating pool and the sum of these two pools, respectively.Empty body fat was poorly correlated with both live weight and empty body weight (R2 = 0·42 and 0·51, respectively). However, there was a strong inverse relationship between the water and fat contents of the empty body. Consequently, empty body fat was accurately predicted by a multiple regression equation which included both empty body weight and empty body water as independent variables (R2 = 0·97). Substitution of these variables with estimates derived from tritiated water kinetics still resulted in a high correlation (R2 = 0·88). Tritiated water kinetics offered little improvement over live weight alone in the prediction of empty body protein, empty body ash or fat-free empty body.

Total body water measured by desiccation and by tritiated water in adult rats.

1974 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 699-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Tisavipat ◽  
S Vibulsreth ◽  
H P Sheng ◽  
R A Huggins
Keyword(s):  
Total Body Water ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Total Body

The effect of route of dosing and method of estimation of tritiated water space on the determination of total body water and the prediction of body fat in sheep

1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. W. Smith ◽  
A. R. Sykes
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Multiple Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Water Space

SUMMARYEight mature female sheep were offered a ration which maintained body weight constant during a 20-week period. During the final 10 weeks a comparison was made in each animal of the pattern of equilibration and urinary losses of tritiated water during 8 h after dosing by four different routes. These were intravenous, intraperitoneal, intraruminal and a combination of the intraperitoneal and intraruminal routes. Tritiated water spaces were calculated from (a) the 8-h plasma specific activity and (b) by extrapolation to zero time of the plasma specific activities during the 7 days after injection. At the end of the experiment the fat and water contents of the bodies of the sheep were determined directly.Complete equilibration of tritiated water between plasma and rumen water was not achieved in all animals 8 h after intravenous or intraperitoneal injection but was when the rumen was primed by the combination of intraperitoneal and intraruminal dosing. After intraruminal dosing equilibration was not achieved in any animal within 8 h of dosing.Urinary losses of marker were lower after intraruminal dosing but otherwise averaged 4–5 % of the dose/1 urine. This was equivalent to 0·3–6·7% of the dose for individual sheep.Errors resulting from incomplete equilibration and urinary loss of marker did not influence the efficiency of prediction of total body water from tritiated water space. The multiple correlation coefficient relating body fat with empty body weight and its water content was very high (r = 0·99). Errors introduced into this relationship by the inclusion of gut water in the prediction equations were apparently of a similar magnitude to those resulting from the errors in the estimation of tritiated water space.The extrapolation method for the determination of tritiated water space was shown to have the same accuracy as equilibration techniques under these controlled dietary conditions.

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