scholarly journals Evaluation of ultrasound scanning as a method for measuring subcutaneous fat in Svalbard reindeer

Rangifer ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Audun Stien ◽  
R. Justin Irvine ◽  
Rolf Langvatn ◽  
Erik Ropstad
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Ultrasound Scanning ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Reliable Measure ◽  
Svalbard Reindeer

The fitness of an animal is generally strongly dependent on its body condition. A reliable measure of body condition is therefore valuable in ecological studies.

Body condition in Svalbard reindeer and the use of blood parameters as indicators of condition and fitness

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 1566-1578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jos M Milner ◽  
Audun Stien ◽  
R Justin Irvine ◽  
Steve D Albon ◽  
Rolf Langvatn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Blood Parameter ◽  
Ecological Fitness ◽  
Svalbard Reindeer ◽  
Fat Thickness

Body condition is an important determinant of ecological fitness but is difficult to measure in field studies of live animals. Live mass and subcutaneous fat are often used as proxies for body condition and related to fitness. We investigated the relationship between blood-chemistry parameters and live mass and back-fat thickness and assessed their usefulness as predictors of ecological fitness in a wild arctic ungulate population, Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus). Female reindeer were sampled in late winter between 1995 and 2002 and concentrations of blood parameters were related to subsequent survival and successful calving. There was marked annual variation in all blood parameters, live mass, and back-fat thickness, reflecting variation in weather and food availability. At the individual level, variation in blood-parameter concentrations was not closely related to variation in live mass or back-fat thickness, instead reflecting shorter term nutritional status. Blood parameters could therefore provide useful additional information, enhancing the predictive power of fitness models based on live mass. The urea:creatinine ratio significantly improved adult survival models, while β-hydroxybutyric acid and creatinine concentrations were significant predictors of calving success. The applications for blood parameters in ecological investigations look promising and should be tested more widely in other field studies.

scholarly journals Comparison of two live-animal ultrasound systems for genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Angus cattle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Duff ◽  
J H J van der Werf ◽  
P F Parnell ◽  
S A Clark
Keyword(s):  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Ultrasound Scan ◽  
Ultrasound Scanning ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Angus Cattle ◽  
Breeding Objective ◽  
Two Systems

Abstract The improvement of carcass traits is an important breeding objective in beef cattle breeding programs. The most common way of selecting for improvement in carcass traits is via indirect selection using ultrasound scanning of selection candidates which are submitted to genetic evaluation programs. Two systems used to analyse ultrasound images to predict carcass traits are the Pie Medical Esaote Aquila (PIE) and Central Ultrasound Processing (CUP). This study compared the ability of the two systems to predict carcass traits for genetic evaluation in Australian Angus cattle. Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated using data from 1648 Angus steers which were ultrasound scanned twice with both systems, first at feedlot entry and then following 100 days in the feedlot. The traits interpreted from ultrasound scanning included eye muscle area (EMA), rib fat (RIB) rump fat (RUMP) and intramuscular fat (IMF). Abattoir carcass data were collected on all steers following the full feedlot feeding period of 285 days. For all ultrasound scan traits, CUP resulted in higher phenotypic and genetic variances compared to the PIE. For IMF, CUP had higher heritability at feedlot intake (0.51 for CUP compared to 0.37 for PIE) and after 100 days feeding (0.54 for CUP compared to 0.45 PIE). CUP predicted IMF also tended to have stronger correlations with the breeding objective traits of carcass IMF marbling traits, both genetically (ranging from 0.59 to 0.75 for CUP compared to 0.45 to 0.63 for PIE) and phenotypically (ranging from 0.27 to 0.43 for CUP compared to 0.19 to 0.28 for PIE). Ultrasound scan EMA were the only group of traits in which the heritabilities were higher for PIE (0.52 for PIE compared to 0.40 for CUP at feedlot intake and 0.46 for PIE compared to 0.43 for CUP at 100 days of feeding), however with similar relationships to the breeding objective carcass EMA observed. For subcutaneous fat traits of ultrasound RIB and RUMP, the heritabilites and genetic correlations to the related carcass traits were similar, with the exception being the higher heritability observed for CUP predicted RUMP at feedlot intake at 0.52 compared to 0.38 for PIE. The results from this study indicates that the CUP system, compared to PIE, provides an advantage for genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Angus cattle, particularly for the IMF and associated marbling traits.

Estimation in vivo of the chemical composition of the bodies of mature cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Deuterium Oxide ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Ultrasonic Measurements ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTA number of possible indices of body composition (live weight, skeletal size, total body water as estimated by deuterium oxide dilution, blood and red cell volumes as estimated by Evans Blue dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring) was examined using 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating, mature cows of Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, British Friesian, Galloway and Luing genotypes, ranging in body condition score from 0·75 to 4·5. Direct measurements of body composition in terms of water, fat, protein and ash were made following slaughter.Live weight, deuterium oxide dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eyemuscle area, and body condition score were all considered to be potentially useful predictors of body composition. Combinations of techniques offered better predictions than did any single index. Using a combination of measurements it was possible to predict body fat and protein with a residual s.d. of 13·1 kg and 3·15 kg respectively. Breed differences in the partition of fat among the main adipose tissue depots necessitated the development of specific prediction equations for body fat based on condition score and subcutaneous fat depth for different breeds. Equations remain to be developed for predicting body composition in cows in different physiological states.

scholarly journals Validation of a Commercial Automated Body Condition Scoring System on a Commercial Dairy Farm

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel L. Mullins ◽  
Carissa M. Truman ◽  
Magnus R. Campler ◽  
Jeffrey M. Bewley ◽  
Joao H. C. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Interobserver Reliability ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
The Body ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Body Condition Scoring

Body condition scoring (BCS) is the management practice of assessing body reserves of individual animals by visual or tactile estimation of subcutaneous fat and muscle. Both high and low BCS can negatively impact milk production, disease, and reproduction. Visual or tactile estimation of subcutaneous fat reserves in dairy cattle relies on their body shape or thickness of fat layers and muscle on key areas of the body. Although manual BCS has proven beneficial, consistent qualitative scoring can be difficult to implement. The desirable BCS range for dairy cows varies within lactation and should be monitored at multiple time points throughout lactation for the most impact, a practice that can be hard to implement. However, a commercial automatic BCS camera is currently available for dairy cattle (DeLaval Body Condition Scoring, BCS DeLaval International AB, Tumba, Sweden). The objective of this study was to validate the implementation of an automated BCS system in a commercial setting and compare agreement of the automated body condition scores with conventional manual scoring. The study was conducted on a commercial farm in Indiana, USA, in April 2017. Three trained staff members scored 343 cows manually using a 1 to 5 BCS scale, with 0.25 increments. Pearson’s correlations (0.85, scorer 1 vs. 2; 0.87, scorer 2 vs. 3; and 0.86, scorer 1 vs. 3) and Cohen’s Kappa coefficients (0.62, scorer 1 vs. 2; 0.66, scorer 2 vs. 3; and 0.66, scorer 1 vs. 3) were calculated to assess interobserver reliability, with the correlations being 0.85, 0.87, and 0.86. The automated camera BCS scores were compared with the averaged manual scores. The mean BCS were 3.39 ± 0.32 and 3.27 ± 0.27 (mean ± SD) for manual and automatic camera scores, respectively. We found that the automated body condition scoring technology was strongly correlated with the manual scores, with a correlation of 0.78. The automated BCS camera system accuracy was equivalent to manual scoring, with a mean error of −0.1 BCS and within the acceptable manual error threshold of 0.25 BCS between BCS (3.00 to 3.75) but was less accurate for cows with high (>3.75) or low (<3.00) BCS scores compared to manual scorers. A Bland–Altman plot was constructed which demonstrated a bias in the high and low automated BCS scoring. The initial findings show that the BCS camera system provides accurate BCS between 3.00 to 3.75 but tends to be inaccurate at determining the magnitude of low and high BCS scores. However, the results are promising, as an automated system may encourage more producers to adopt BCS into their practices to detect early signs of BCS change for individual cattle. Future algorithm and software development is likely to increase the accuracy in automated BCS scoring.

Post-weaning growth of Hereford and first-cross heifers grazing three pasture systems

1989 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Hearnshaw ◽  
R. E. Darnell ◽  
R. Barlow ◽  
Virginia Finch
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Frame Size ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Pelvic Area ◽  
Genotype Interaction ◽  
Similar Body

SummaryThe post-weaning growth, frame size and body condition of Hereford (H × H), Brahman × Hereford (B × H), Simmental × Hereford (S × H) and Friesian × Hereford (F × H) heifers were evaluated on three pasture systems in each of five years. One group of heifers was grown from weaning (at 8 months of age) to 18 months on the high-pasture system, which included supplementation with grain, while the other two groups were grown to 30 months on pastures of medium or low quality. Pasture effects were large compared with differences between years, with average daily gains between weaning and 18 months of 552, 275 and 97 g/day on high, medium and low pastures, respectively. Genotype had a significant effect on all measurements. Pasture × genotype interaction was significant in most instances. While crosses grew faster and were heavier than H × H on all pastures, S × H were heaviest by 18 months on high pasture, with B × H heaviest at all ages up to 30 months on both medium and low pastures. There was little difference in live weight between B × H and F × H on high pasture, or between S × H and F × H on medium pasture, whereas F × H was heavier than S × H on low pasture. There were concomitant differences in measures of skeletal size, but when adjusted allometrically to a common live weight, pasture effects were removed, while differences between genotypes remained. At a common live weight F × H had the largest height, length and pelvic area, but shared the lowest body condition with S × H. Pelvic height was greatest among B × H heifers, but this cross had similar body length, condition and subcutaneous fat cover to H × H. The pattern of genotype × pasture interaction observed in this study was similar to that observed by Darnell, Hearnshaw & Barlow (1987) for growth rate among contemporary steers located in different environments.

scholarly journals Relationships between body condition score and ultrasound skin-associated subcutaneous fat depth in equine

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. P12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Severiano R Silva ◽  
Rita Payan-Carreira ◽  
Miguel Quaresma ◽  
Cristina M Guedes ◽  
Ana Santos
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Condition Score

Validation of body condition score as a predictor of subcutaneous fat in Nelore (Bos indicus) cows

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 175-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henderson Ayres ◽  
Roberta Machado Ferreira ◽  
José Ribamar de Souza Torres-Júnior ◽  
Clarice Garcia Borges Demétrio ◽  
César Gonçalves de Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Condition Score

scholarly journals Use of ultrasound scanning and body condition score to evaluate composition traits in mature beef cows123

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 3868-3877 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Emenheiser ◽  
R. G. Tait ◽  
S. D. Shackelford ◽  
L. A. Kuehn ◽  
T. L. Wheeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Ultrasound Scanning ◽  
Condition Score
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