scholarly journals Assessment of season-dependent body condition scores in relation to faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in free-ranging Asian elephants

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeeta Sharma Pokharel ◽  
Polani B. Seshagiri ◽  
Raman Sukumar
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Body Condition Scores

Influence of the number of calves and lactating adult females in a herd on the adrenocortical activity of free-ranging Asian elephants

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeeta Sharma Pokharel ◽  
Polani B. Seshagiri ◽  
Raman Sukumar
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Free Ranging

Abstract ContextPhysiological stress has the potential to influence animal population persistence. The endangered Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is involved in intense conflict with humans in many parts of its range, which likely leads to stress for individuals and groups, with consequences for population survival. Thus, it is important to understand how the elephants’ stress levels are influenced by socio-ecological factors when not directly exposed to human-induced threats, and to use this understanding to improve conservation and management strategies. AimsThe present study was designed to provide baseline information on the link between socio-ecological factors and stress levels of undisturbed populations of elephants. The main aim was to determine the influence of a number of factors – herd size, season, number of calves and adult females present in a herd and their lactational status and body condition – on the adrenocortical activity of free-ranging adult female Asian elephants living in protected forests (without any direct exposure to human-induced threats), by measuring their faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels. MethodsA total of 145 fresh faecal samples were collected from 123 identified adult female elephants inhabiting Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks of southern India, between the years 2013 and 2015. fGCM levels were measured by employing a group-specific standardised 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A generalised linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) was used to assess the influence of socio-ecological factors on fGCM levels of adult female elephants. Key resultsWhen fGCM levels were analysed with a GLMM, the following patterns were observed: fGCM levels were negatively correlated with the number of adult females (herd size) and positively correlated with the number of calves in a herd and active lactational status of an adult female. fGCM levels of adult female elephants were higher during the dry season (February to May) than wet season (August to December) and negatively correlated with body condition scores. ConclusionsAdrenocortical activity of female elephants is significantly influenced by the number of calves and adult females present in the herd, seasonality and lactational status. ImplicationsIt is important to consider the influence of multiple ecological and social correlates when assessing and interpreting the adrenocortical activity of Asian elephants. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining the social structure of elephants in the wild to avoid detrimental effects on their physiological health. Insights from such assessments could be used to evaluate the stress in elephants that are involved in direct conflicts with humans to take appropriate management decisions for mitigating conflicts.

scholarly journals Comparative health assessment of urban and non-urban free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in southeastern British Columbia, Canada

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Mathieu ◽  
Mark Flint ◽  
Patrick M. Stent ◽  
Helen M. Schwantje ◽  
Thomas E. Wittum
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Pathogen Exposure ◽  
Body Condition Scores

Background The provincial wildlife management agency, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, performed a translocation to control the urban mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; uMD) overpopulation and supplement the declining non-urban mule deer (nuMD) population in the Kootenay region, British Columbia, Canada. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to evaluate the health of the urban and nuMD populations by comparing pathogen exposure, body condition scores (BCS) and pregnancy rates, to characterize the health risks associated with the translocation and to investigate the role of infectious diseases in the decline of the nuMD deer population. Methods Two hundred free-ranging mule deer were captured in urban and non-urban environments in the Kootenay region from 2014 to 2017. BCS and morphometric examinations were performed for each deer. Blood samples collected from each deer were tested for exposure to selected pathogens and pregnancy status. Results Body condition scores averaged 3.4 on a five-point scale, was greater in nuMD, and significantly differed between years. Antibodies were detected for adenovirus hemorrhagic disease virus (38.4% (uMD 43.7%, nuMD 33.3%)), bluetongue virus (0.6% (uMD 1.2%, nuMD 0%)), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (8.4% (uMD 4.6%, nuMD 12.1%)), bovine viral diarrhea virus (1.1% (uMD 0%, nuMD 2.2%)), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (27.0% (uMD 27.6%, nuMD 26.4%)), Neospora caninum (22.1% (uMD 24.4%, nuMD 19.7%)) and Toxoplasma gondii (8.2% (uMD 12.3%, nuMD 3.9%)). No antibodies against epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus were detected. Pregnancy rates did not differ between the two deer populations (90.7% (uMD 90.6%, nuMD 90.9%)). Exposure to N. caninum was associated with a reduced probability of being pregnant. uMD were more likely to be exposed to T. gondii than nuMD. Discussion Comparison of BCS, pregnancy rates and pathogen exposure of uMD and nuMD showed that the health of the two populations did not significantly differ, suggesting uMD translocations do not pose a severe risk of pathogen transmission between mule deer populations and that these selected pathogens do not factor in the decline of the nuMD population. However, inclusion of additional health indicators and creation of a robust predictive disease model are warranted to further characterize the health of mule deer and the health risks associated with uMD translocations. These results should be considered as part of a formal risk assessment for future uMD translocations in southeastern British Columbia.

The interpretation and analysis of subjective body condition scores

1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Ranking Methods ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Body Condition Scores ◽  
Score Distributions

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.

scholarly journals Can faecal glucocorticoid metabolites be used to monitor body condition in wild Upland geese Chloephaga picta leucoptera?

2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 1491-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Gladbach ◽  
David Joachim Gladbach ◽  
Martina Koch ◽  
Alexandra Kuchar ◽  
Erich Möstl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Chloephaga Picta Leucoptera ◽  
Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites

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

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.

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

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.

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

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 2311-2321 ◽  
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

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.

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