Liveweight prediction from hip height, condition score, fetal age and breed in tropical female cattle

Hip height, body condition, subcutaneous fat, eye muscle area, percentage Bos taurus, fetal age and diet digestibility data were collected at 17 372 assessments on 2181 Brahman and tropical composite (average 28% Brahman) female cattle aged between 0.5 and 7.5 years of age at five sites across Queensland. The study validated the subtraction of previously published estimates of gravid uterine weight to correct liveweight to the non-pregnant status. Hip height and liveweight were linearly related (Brahman: P < 0.001, R2 = 58%; tropical composite P < 0.001, R2 = 67%). Liveweight varied by 12–14% per body condition score (5-point scale) as cows differed from moderate condition (P < 0.01). Parallel effects were also found due to subcutaneous rump fat depth and eye muscle area, which were highly correlated with each other and body condition score (r = 0.7–0.8). Liveweight differed from average by 1.65–1.66% per mm of rump fat depth and 0.71–0.76% per cm2 of eye muscle area (P < 0.01). Estimated dry matter digestibility of pasture consumed had no consistent effect in predicting liveweight and was therefore excluded from final models. A method developed to estimate full liveweight of post-weaning age female beef cattle from the other measures taken predicted liveweight to within 10 and 23% of that recorded for 65 and 95% of cases, respectively. For a 95% chance of predicted group average liveweight (body condition score used) being within 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1% of actual group average liveweight required 23, 36, 62, 137 and 521 females, respectively, if precision and accuracy of measurements matches that used in the research. Non-pregnant Bos taurus female cattle were calculated to be 10–40% heavier than Brahmans at the same hip height and body condition, indicating a substantial conformational difference. The liveweight prediction method was applied to a validation population of 83 unrelated groups of cattle weighed in extensive commercial situations on 119 days over 18 months (20 917 assessments). Liveweight prediction in the validation population exceeded average recorded liveweight for weigh groups by an average of 19 kg (~6%) demonstrating the difficulty of achieving accurate and precise animal measurements under extensive commercial grazing conditions.

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

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100041325 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 33-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

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.

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Relationship between body condition score and subcutaneous fat and muscle area measured by ultrasound in Pelibuey ewes

Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture ◽

10.9755/ejfa.2019.v31.i1.1901 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

A.J. Chay-Canul, R. A. Garcia- Herrera, N. F. O. Robertos ◽

Ulises Macias- Cruz ◽

Ricardo Vicente- Pérez ◽

Víctor M. Meza- Villalvazo

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Condition Score

Abstract

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The genetics of cow growth and body composition at first calving in two tropical beef genotypes

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an12427 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 37 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. L. Wolcott ◽

D. J. Johnston ◽

S. A. Barwick ◽

N. J. Corbet ◽

P. J. Williams

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Eye Muscle ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Mating Period ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Condition Score

The genetics of cow growth and body composition traits, measured before first calving (pre-calving: in females before calving following their first 3-month annual mating period, at an average age of 34 months) and at the start of the subsequent mating period (Mating 2: on average 109 days later), were evaluated in 1016 Brahman (BRAH) and 1094 Tropical Composite (TCOMP) cows. Measurements analysed were liveweight, ultrasound-scanned measurements of P8 and 12/13th rib fat depth and eye muscle area, body condition score and hip height. Traits describing the change in these from pre-calving to Mating 2 were also included in the analysis. The maternal genetic component of weaning weight was estimated from weaning-weight records on these cows, their steer half-sibs and their progeny generated from up to six matings (n = 12 528). Within pregnant cows at pre-calving, BRAH were significantly lighter, leaner at the P8 site and taller than their TCOMP contemporaries, and these differences were also significant at Mating 2. There was a genetic basis for variation in growth and body composition traits measured at pre-calving and Mating 2 in BRAH (h2 = 0.27–0.67) and TCOMP (h2 = 0.25–0.87). Traits describing the change from pre- calving to Mating 2 were also moderately heritable for both genotypes (h2 = 0.17–0.54), except for change in hip height (h2 = 0.00 and 0.10 for BRAH and TCOMP, respectively). Genetic correlations between measurements of the same trait at pre-calving and Mating 2 were consistently positive and strong (rg = 0.75–0.98) and similar for both genotypes. In lactating cows, genetic correlations of growth and body composition traits with their change from pre-calving to Mating 2 showed that when animals had low levels of P8 and rib fat at Mating 2, change in eye muscle area was an important descriptor of genetic body condition score (rg = 0.63). This was supported by moderate genetic relationships, which suggested that lactating cows that were genetically predisposed to lose less eye muscle area were those that ended the period with higher P8 fat (rg = 0.66), rib fat (rg = 0.72) and body condition score (rg = 0.61). Change in liveweight, body condition score and, in particular, eye muscle area was significantly related to the maternal genetic component of weaning weight (rg = from –0.40 to –0.85) in both genotypes, suggesting that cows with higher genetic milk-production potential were those with the propensity for greater loss of these traits over the period from pre-calving to Mating 2. These results showed that for tropically adapted cows, the change in eye muscle area from pre-calving to Mating 2 was a more important descriptor of body condition at Mating 2 than was change in fat depth, and that higher genetic milk-production potential, measured as maternal weaning weight, was genetically related to higher mobilisation of muscle, and therefore body condition, over this period.

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Effects of body condition score at initiation of the breeding season on reproductive performance and overall productivity of Bos taurus and B. indicus beef cows

Animal Reproduction Science ◽

10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106820 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106820

Author(s):

R.F. Cooke ◽

G.C. Lamb ◽

J.L.M. Vasconcelos ◽

K.G. Pohler

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Beef Cows ◽

Condition Score

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Maternal body composition in seedstock herds. 4. Genetic parameters for body composition of Angus and Hereford cows

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an13258 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 145 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. A. Donoghue ◽

S. J. Lee ◽

P. F. Parnell ◽

W. S. Pitchford

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Genetic Relationships ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Eye Muscle ◽

Life Traits ◽

Condition Score ◽

Over Time

The genetics of body composition traits measured before calving and at weaning in the first and second parities were evaluated in 5975 Angus and 1785 Hereford cows. Traits measured were liveweight, body condition score and hip height and ultrasound scanned measurements of subcutaneous P8 and 12/13th rib fat depth, loin eye muscle area and intramuscular fat percentage. Corresponding yearling measures on these animals were obtained for analyses of relationships between yearling information with later-in-life traits. There was moderate genetic variation in all body composition traits measured at pre-calving and weaning in Angus (h2 = 0.14–0.59) and Hereford (h2 = 0.14–0.64) cows. Genetic correlations between measurements of the same trait at pre-calving and weaning were consistently positive and high in both parities for both breeds, indicating animals were ranking similarly for the same trait measured over time. Genetic correlations between measurements of different traits were generally consistent over time (pre-calving and weaning) in both breeds, indicating genetic relationships between traits were not changing significantly over time. Genetic correlations with corresponding yearling measures of body composition were consistently positive and high for the first parity, and lower for the second parity. The results of this study indicate that genetic improvement in body composition traits in cows is possible, and that body composition information recorded at yearling age is a reasonably good predictor of later in life performance for these traits.

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Evaluation of Bos indicus and Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses. II. Post-weaning growth, puberty, and pelvic size of heifers

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9940795 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 795 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

H Hearnshaw ◽

PF Arthur ◽

R Barlow ◽

PJ Kohun ◽

RE Darnell

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

The Other ◽

South Wales ◽

Condition Score ◽

Medium Quality ◽

The Mean ◽

Pelvic Size

Post-weaning growth and body condition, puberty and pelvic size of 197 heifers comprising straightbred Hereford (HxH) and Brahman (BxB), first-cross (BxH) and back-cross (HxBH and BxBH) heifers were evaluated. The heifers were born over a 3 year period, and grazed improved and semi-improved pastures following weaning at Grafton, New South Wales. Prior to weaning, heifers had been reared by dams on three pasture systems (high, medium and low quality pastures). Heifers from low quality pre-weaning pasture had higher (P < 0.05) post-weaning liveweight gain than those from high and medium quality pastures. BxH heifers gained 71 g/day more (P < 0.05) than the mean gain of their contemporaries of the other genotypes, whose gains were similar, from weaning to either 26 or to 30 months of age. Liveweight at all ages was influenced by genotype x pre-weaning pasture system interaction. At 30 months of age, BxH heifers from high and medium pre-weaning pastures were the heaviest. At the same age, but from low quality pre-weaning pasture, heifers with crossbred dams (HxBH and BxBH) were the heaviest. Wither height depended significantly (P < 0.05) on the proportion of Bos indicus genes, increasing from 113.8 cm in the HxH heifers to 124.4 cm in the BxB heifers at 30 months of age. BxH heifers had a higher (P < 0.05) body condition score than their contemporaries of the other genotypes, which were in similar condition, at 26 and 30 months of age. On average (across pre-weaning pasture system), 9% of BxB heifers had reached puberty by 22 months of age compared to 62, 95, 82 and 64% (s.e.= 9) for HxH, HxBH, BxH and BxBH heifers respectively. No significant genotype differences were obtained in the height, width and size of the pelvic opening of the heifers, measured just prior to the beginning of the mating season at 26 months of age.

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

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/1751-0147-57-s1-p12 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 57 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. P12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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

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

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2008.11.004 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 123 (2-3) ◽

pp. 175-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

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

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Ultrasonic Measurement of Body Fat as a Means of Assessing Body Condition in Free-Ranging Raccoons (Procyon lotor)

International Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1155/2010/972380 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elizabeth M. Stringer ◽

Michael K. Stoskopf ◽

Theodore Simons ◽

Allan F. O'Connell ◽

Arielle Waldstein

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Condition ◽

Procyon Lotor ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Physical Measurement ◽

Ventral Midline ◽

Condition Score ◽

Free Ranging

Assessment of body condition of free-ranging animals is important when evaluating population health and fitness. The following study used body condition scoring, ultrasound, and dissected physical measurement to assess fat stores in free-ranging raccoons (Procyon lotor). Measurements were taken of subcutaneous fat at interscapular, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral paraspinal and ventral midline sites. These measurements were examined in relationship to body condition scores and body weight. The ultrasound technique accurately measured the subcutaneous fat of raccoons when compared to dissected physical measurement and yielded data that strongly correlated with both body condition score and body weight, with the ventral midline measurement most strongly correlated. This noninvasive method may be useful in conjunction with body condition score and body weight when assessing the nutritional status of raccoons and potentially other small carnivore species.

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