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Open Access
DEVELOPMENT AND ULTRASONIC ASSESSMENT OF THE PRECISION OF BODY CONDITION SCORE (BCS) SYSTEM AS A PREDICTOR FOR PRODUCTION, REPRODUCTION AND HEALTH PERFORMANCE OF MURRAH BUFFALOES
(Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, TIRUPATI – 517 502,A.P, 2009-02) ANITHA, A; SARJAN RAO, K (Major); SURESH, J; MOORTHY, P.R.S; KOTI LINGA REDDY, Y
ABSTRACT: Body Condition Score (BCS) system is a subjective scoring method of evaluating the energy reserves of dairy animals which provide the better understanding of biological relationship between body fat, milk production and reproduction that helps in adopting the optimum managemental practices to derive maximum production and maintain better health status. In the present study new BCS system was developed for Murrah buffaloes. The skeletal check points were identified by spotting out the anatomical features which enabled to assess the fat reserves easily and by measuring the amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. The scores were assigned in a 1 to 5 scale based on the amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. The skeletal check points identified were kept in order based on the amount of carcass fat reserves and scores assigned to prepare preliminary BCS chart in a 1 to 5 scale using 0.25 increments. The BCS chart was further modified by correcting the demerits and a new BCS chart in a 1 to 5 scale using 0.5 increments examining eight skeletal check points was developed. BCS was assigned using the chart developed and the new BCS system developed was found to be precise and consistent. The new BCS system developed was subjected for precision in 10 buffaloes for each point of the 1-5 scale by ultrasonographic measurements of body fat reserves. The ultrasonographic measurements showed that the fat reserves were higher at the point between tail head to pins and as the BCS increased the amount of fat reserves also increased indicating that BCS adequately reflected in the amount of actual fat reserves. BCS was significantly correlated (0.86) with the carcass fat reserves as well as ultrasonographic fat reserves (0.85) and ultrasonography has the potential to determine fat thickness with a high degree of accuracy. The effect of BCS at calving on the reproductive performance studied in 24 buffaloes in a 4 x 6 CRD showed that increase in body weight of 80.33 kg was observed for every one unit increase of BCSc between BCSc groups of 2.5 – 2.99 and 3.5 – 3.99 and 82.34 kg between BCSc groups of 3.0 – 3.49 and 4.0 – 4.49. Buffaloes of BCSc above 3.5 with significantly (P < 0.01) higher body weights showed better reproductive performance compared to buffaloes of BCSc groups below 3.5 with less body weights. The prepartum and weekly postpartum changes in BCS studied showed that the buffaloes gained a BCS of 0.57 from 3 months prepartum to one week prepartum, lost 0.17 BCS due to calving, further showed a decline in BCS upto 9 weeks of postpartum and then started regaining BCS gradually until 18 weeks postpartum. The mean LBCS over the period of 18 weeks postpartum was comparatively higher (0.75 ± 0.05) than BCS restored in the early lactation which was shown as GBCS (0.34 ± 0.02). The difference of 0.41 units between LBCS and GBCS was observed over a period of 18 weeks postpartum. Buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 – 3.99 showed the best reproduction performance among the four BCSc groups with less postpartum estrus period (46.66 days), service period (58.83 days), number of service per conception (1.50) and high rate of 1st service conception (66.66%) followed by the BCSc groups of 4.0 – 4.49, 3.0 – 3.49 and 2.5 – 2.99. Buffaloes should have the target condition scores of minimum BCS of 3.25-3.5 at three months prepartum, 3.5-3.99 at calving, 2.75 to 3.0 at around 8 weeks postpartum and 3.0 to 3.25 by 18 weeks postpartum so that they can show good reproductive performance. The resumption of ovarian activity was observed at mean values of 47.25 ± 2.39, 42.0 ± 2.91, 29.33 ± 3.33 and 39.33 ± 4.21 days for the BCSc groups of 2.5 – 2.99, 3.0 – 3.49, 3.5 – 3.99 and 4.0 – 4.49 respectively. Buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 – 3.99 showed significantly (P < 0.05) earlier resumption of ovarian activity. The breeding efficiency was significantly (P < 0.01) higher for buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 – 3.99. The monthly postpartum changes in BCS showed that BCS decreased from calving to two months of lactation and then gradually increased. Inverse relationship was observed between monthly BCS and milk yield. The lactation curve characteristics studied in relation to BCSc in 40 buffaloes in a 4 x 10 CRD, showed that the milk production increased from calving until two months of lactation, reaching peak production and then gradually showed a decline for all the BCSc groups of the test herd. The total milk yield upto 18 weeks of lactation was higher for the BCSc group of 3.5 - 3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc, an increase of 395.27 kg in the 18 weeks lactation yield was observed. But as the BCSc exceeded 3.99 a decrease in milk yield was noticed. The predicted lactation yield was higher for the BCSc group of 3.5-3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc an increase of 759.55 kg was observed in the predicted lactation yield. But as the BCSc exceeded 3.99 the predicted yield showed a decline. The peak milk yield was higher for the BCSc group 3.5-3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc, an increase of 4.57 kg of peak yield was noticed. Further, the peak yield and persistency index showed a decrease as BCSc exceeded 3.99. For every one unit increase in BCSc an increase of milk fat per cent of 1.8 and 2.0 was observed at 6-8 weeks and 16-18 weeks after calving, respectively. For every one unit increase in BCSc an increase of milk protein / SNF of 0.55 and 0.54 was observed at 6-8 weeks and 16-18 weeks after calving respectively. As the BCS increased from 6-8 weeks after calving to 16-18 weeks after calving the milk components i.e., fat, protein and SNF showed an increasing trend. Buffaloes of BCS below 3.5 were more prone to mastitis, anoestrum and retained placenta indicating that thin buffaloes in negative energy balance were more susceptible to health disorders.
Open Access
UTILITY OF BODY CONDITION SCORE (BCS) SYSTEM FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL AND PRODUCTION TRAITS OF CROSSBRED COWS
(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY , TIRUPATI – 517 502 (A.P) INDIA, 2003-07) ANITHA, A; SARJAN RAO, K (Major); RAMANA, J.V; SATHYANARAYANA REDDY, P.V.V
ABSTRACT : Body Condition Score (BCS) system is a subjective scoring method of evaluating the energy reserves of dairy cows which provide the better understanding of biological relationship between body fat, milk production and reproduction that helps in adopting the 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 crossbred Jersey and HF cows in F1 and F2 generation. The chart suggested by Edmonson et al. (1989) described eight important areas of check points on the cow in assigning an overall BCS in a 1 to 5 scale, using 0.25 increments functioning as a 17 point scale. After each area was examined by vision and palpation, score is recorded and a general average BCS was assigned to the cows. The relationship between BCS and physical parameters studied in 150 crossbred cows showed that 148 cows were in the BCS range of 2.75 to 4.25. Cows of below 5 years of age showed 0.1 unit higher BCS (P < 0.05) than cows of 5 and above 5 years of age. Correlation coefficients indicated that as the BCS increased, heart girth measurements and body weights were increased whereas, wither height, hook height, sternum height and intercostal space measurements decreased. However, these relationships were statistically non-significant. The postpartum changes in BCS studied in 30 crossbred Jersey and HF cows showed a mean ± SE BCSc of 3.67 ± 0.07. The DMI / Kg B.Wt reduced by 10 and 12.8 g with an increase of one unit BCSc for the BCSc ranges of 3.25 to 3.75 and 3.75 to 4.25 respectively. The cows had lost their body condition until 10 weeks postpartum and later on gradually started recouping their body condition. Cows in all the 5 series of lactation have maintained a minimum BCS of above 2.5 during early lactation. The range of minimum BCS recorded was 2.5 to 3.5 with a mean of 3.16 ± 0.07. The mean LBCS and GBCS values observed over the period of 18 weeks postpartum were 0.62 ± 0.04 and 0.35 ± 0.02, respectively. Cows of BCSc of below 3.5 had regained their loss in condition one week prior to the cows of BCSc of above 3.5. The mean weekly postpartum BCS change was significantly higher (P<0.01) for cows of BCSc of above 3.5 than for cows of below 3.5 during the 18 wks postpartum. Rank correlation between BCS and milk yield / day at 4, 19, 34, 49, 64, 79, 94, 109 and 120 days of milking showed that BCS and milk yield were positively correlated (P<0.01) at 49 days of lactation and non-significant correlation was observed during the remaining test days. For every one unit increase in BCS a decrease of 3kg milk yield and an increase of 3.7 kg FCM were recorded. However, these values were statistically non-significant and BCS had no significant effect on mean peak and daily milk yield. Cows with BCSc of 3.00 to 3.49 have taken more number of days (33) to reach the peak milk yield when compared to cows with BCSc of 4.00 to 4.49. The slope to peak was higher (0.79 ± 0.16) at BCSc of 3.00 to 3.49 which had declined (0.64 ± 0.13) at BCSc of 4.00 to 4.49. The persistency (slope from peak) was more for cows with BCSc of 3.00 to 3.49 (0.93 ± 0.12) compared to cows with BCSc of 4.00 to 4.49 (0.63 ± 0.23). The 305 day predicted milk yield at 30 days of lactation was reduced in the subsequent month prediction by 675.74, 621.20 and 198 kg for 3rd, 4th and 5th lactations, respectively. Cows with higher milk yield of 3500-4500 kg in previous lactation had comparatively a low BCSc (3.39) in the present lactation than medium (2500-3500 kg) and low (1500-2500 kg) yielders, which were assigned the BCSc of 3.69 and 3.78, respectively. For every one unit increase in BCS there was an increase of 22.39g fat and decrease of 14.53 g of protein per kg of milk yield. The service period was 94, 90 and 82 days for cows with BCSc of 3.00 to 3.49, 3.5 to 3.99 and 4.00 to 4.49, respectively and it was observed that BCSc had no significant effect on service period. Cows with BCS of below 3.5 were more affected with Clinical Mastitis (23) than cows with BCS of above 3.5(15). Hence, based on the results obtained it was concluded that the BCS system is an economic tool of determining the body condition of dairy cows more accurately which helps us to monitor the plane of nutrition to achieve the optimum performance of crossbred data.