Browsing by Author "VENKATESWARLU, MEDARAMETLA"
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ThesisItem Open Access STUDY OF BODY CONDITION SCORE (BCS) IN RELATION TO PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE IN ONGOLE CATTLE(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2021-03) VENKATESWARLU, MEDARAMETLA; SREEDHAR, S (MAJOR); SUDHAKAR, K; MURALIDHAR, MBody Condition Score (BCS) system is a subjective scoring method that can be used to evaluate the energy reserves of dairy cows and can provide better understanding of biological relationship between body fat, milk production and health status there by helps in adopting optimum managemental practices to derive maximum production and maintain better health status. In the present study the system of body condition assessment developed by Edmonson et al. (1989) was used to score body condition of the Ongole cattle. A total of 24 Ongole cows of 1st to 6th parity were selected and divided into two groups of each 12 cows based on their BCS at one month before expected date of calving. One group includes cows having BCS less than 3.5 and the other group with BCS above 3.5. The relationship between BCS and physical parameters studied in 24 Ongole cows showed that cows with BCS above 3.5 animals having higher heart girth, abdominal girth, wither height and significantly (P<0.05) differed between the two BCS groups. Body length and hook height values were generally higher in cows with BCS above 3.5 animals but not differed significantly between the two BCS groups. The inter costal rib space values were higher in cows with BCS less than 3.5 (P<0.05). Correlation coefficients indicated that BCS at one month before calving was significantly negatively correlated with body length in cows with BCS less than 3.5 group except at two months after calving during the study period and with heart girth at three and five months after calving in cows with BCS above 3.5. The other physical parameters viz. abdominal girth, wither height, hook height and inter costal rib space were non-significantly correlated with BCS measured at one month before calving. The body weight loss gradually increased from 15 days before calving up to 75th day of postpartum (4.65%) in cows with BCS less than 3.5 group. Thereafter loss of body weight decreased from 90 days after calving to 120 days after calving. In case of cows with BCS above 3.5 group, the body weight loss increased from 15 days before calving up to 90 days after calving (7.26%) later decreased up to 120 days after calving. The body weight loss differed significantly (P<0.05) between the group of cows with BCS less than 3.5 and above 3.5 group up to 75 days. The body weight loss was more in cows with BCS above 3.5 group than that of cows with BCS less than 3.5 group. The overall daily milk yield and peak yield were 2.12±0.08, 2.32±0.14 and 3.63±0.08, 4.12±0.16 kg in the cows with BCS less than 3.5 group and above 3.5 group respectively. The days to attain peak yield in cows with BCS less than 3.5 and above 3.5 groups were 58 and 52 days respectively. The average daily milk yield values were differed significantly (P<0.05) between the two BCS groups and higher values were recorded by cows with BCS above 3.5 group. The overall fat, SNF, protein and lactose per cent were 3.22±0.13, 8.94±0.01, 3.43±0.00 and 5.06±0.09, respectively in animals with BCS less than 3.5 group and the corresponding values for BCS above 3.5 group were 3.89±0.17, 9.20±0.02, 3.61±0.01 and 5.27±0.10, respectively. The milk components were differed significantly (P<0.05) between the two BCS groups and higher values were recorded by cows with BCS above 3.5 group. With regard to postpartum changes the BCS after calving was decreased in both the BCS groups. The BCS less than 3.5 group showed BCS loss of 0.75 on 5 BCS point scale from calving to 45th day of postpartum. After 45 days the BCS increased up to 120th day. In the BCS group of animals with above 3.5 score, the loss of BCS continued from calving to 60th day of postpartum with a loss of 1.38 on 5 BCS point scale. After 60 days the BCS gradually increased up to 120th day. There is significant (P<0.05) loss in BCS between two BCS groups from the day of calving to 45th day postpartum. The maximum BCS loss was observed in cows with BCS above 3.5 group animals during the study period. The incidence of mastitis, dystocia and retention of placenta were more in Ongole cows with BCS less than 3.5 group, where as the incidence of ketosis was more in cows with BCS above 3.5 group indicating that thin cows were more susceptible to health disorders. Hence, based on the results obtained in the present study it can be concluded that the BCS system is an economic tool of determining the body condition of Ongole cows more accurately which helps to adopt suitable improved managemental practices and to monitor the plane of nutrition, thus enabling to improve the production efficiency of Ongole cattle.