New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Relationship between body condition score and body composition
in dairy cows
N. G. GREGORY*
J. K. ROBINS
D. G. THOMAS
R. W. PURCHAS
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
*Present address: MIRINZ, P.O. Box 617, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Abstract The relationship between body condition score and
physically dissected body composition was assessed in forty cull Friesian and
Friesian-cross cows. Body condition score was assessed using the New Zealand
condition scoring system which is based on the contours of the cow from its
hooks to its hocks. Measurements following slaughter included the weights of
the udder, kidney knob and channel fat, omental fat, and mesenteric fat, the
post-mortem thickness of the dewlap, the dentition, and carcass length. The
proportions of dissectible fat, muscle, and bone were assessed in a 10-11-12
rib joint. Over the range of 1.4 to 8.0, condition score was positively related
to the weight of the internal fat depots, the proportion of fat in the sample
joint, and the muscle to bone ratio in the sample joint. Between condition
scores 1 and 3 the cows had limited body fat reserves. Dewlap thickness
provided a good estimation of body fatness.
Keywords body condition score; dairy cows; body composition;
fat; emaciation
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1998, Vol. 41: 527-532
0028-8233/98/4104-0527 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1998
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