Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-lrblm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-08T11:49:47.851Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A note on the usefulness of skinfold thickness v. condition score for estimating body fat content in Boran cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. J. Nicholson  and
D. A. Little
M. J. Nicholson
Affiliation:
International Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
D. A. Little
Affiliation:
International Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Get access

Abstract

An attempt was made to use anal skinfold thickness as a quantitative measurement to estimate body fatness in Boran cattle (Bos indicus). Using the normal single-operator technique the relationship between skinfold thickness and the other measurements was poor but was greatly improved by using two operators. It nevertheless remained inferior to body condition score, which was very highly correlated with estimated body fat proportion, It was concluded that condition scoringprovides a valuable index of the nutritional status of Bos indicus cattle, and that measurements of anal fold thickness are not applicable to such animals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 48 , Issue 1 , February 1989 , pp. 234 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Buxton, D. A. L. 1982. Dairy cattle condition scoring. In Farm Production and Practice. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Charles, D. D. 1974. A method of estimating carcase components in cattle Research in Veterinary Science 16: 89–94.Google Scholar
Jansen, J., Bech Anderson, B., Bergstrom, P. L., Busk, H., Lagerweu, G. W. and Oldenbroek, J. K. 1985. In vivo estimation of body composition in young bulls for slaughter. I. The repeatability and reproducibility of a scoring system, an ultrasonic scanning technique and body measurements. Livestock Production Science 12: 221–230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, E. R. and Davis, C. B. 1983. A caliper for determining carcass composition in live cattle and skin-on carcasses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 34: 825–832.Google Scholar
Little, D. A. and McLean, R. W. 1981. Estimation of the body chemical composition of live cattle varying widely in fat content. Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge 96: 213–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowman, B. G., Scott, N. A. and Somerville, S. H. 1976. Condition scoring of cattle. Bulletin, East of Scotland College of Agriculture, No. 6.Google Scholar
McLean, R. W., McCown, R. L., Little, D. A., Winter, W. H. and Dance, R. A. 1983. An analysis of cattle live-weight changes on tropical grass pasture during the dry and early wet seasons in northern Australia. 1. The nature of weight changes. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 101: 17–24.Google Scholar
Nicholson, M. J. 1987. The use of tritiated water in livestock research in Africa. Theory, methodology, application and potential errors in the technique. Bulletin, International Livestock Centre for Africa, No. 26, pp. 8–19.Google Scholar
Nicholson, M. J. and Butterworth, M. H. 1986. A Guide to Condition Scoring of Zebu Cattle. International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa.Google Scholar
Nicholson, M. J. and Sayers, A. R. 1987a. Repeatability, reproducibility and sequential use of condition scoring of Bos indicus cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production 19: 127–135.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nicholson, M. J. and Sayers, A. R. 1987b. Relationships between body weight, condition score and heart girth changes in Boran cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production 19: 115–120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Niekerk, A. van and Louw, B. P. 1982. Condition Scoring of Beef Cattle, Bulletin No. 15/1982. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Natal Region, South Africa.Google Scholar
Wellington, G. 1981. Rating Cattle for Physical Condition. Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.Google Scholar