Evolution of body condition score after calving in dairy cows | Profil de l'etat corporel au cours du postpartum chez la vache laitiere
1999
Drame, E.D. | Hanzen, C. | Houtain, J.Y. (Universite de Liege, Sart Tilman (Belgium). Faculte de medecine veterinaire. Service d'obstetrique et de pathologie des equides, des ruminants et des porcs) | Laurent, Y. | Fall, A.
Body condition scoring is a non invasive mean of estimating fat stores in farm animals. It was used as a feed management tool in dairy farms. The purpose of our study was to determine the trend of body condition score during 926 postpartum periods in dairy cows. Relationships between body condition score and several factors were also analysed. The study was performed in 15 Belgian dairy farms during 18 months. The herd : mean size was equal to 60 holstein cows. Body condition scoring estimates the amount of fatty tissue under the skin and is indicative of the body reserves. This technique is based on the assessment of the fatness at the tailhead and loin. The scale from 1 (emaciated) to 5 (grossly fat) with half scores to give a 9 point scale (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 / 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 / 4.0, 4.5, 5.0) was used for monthly body condition scoring of the experimental animals. Our results have shown that mean of body condition score decreased (from 2.8 to 2.5) between calving and day 60 postpartum. Thereafter, this value increased to reach a maximum of 3.5 at day 351-360 postpartum. The profile of fat cows proportion was similar to the trend of body condition score during postpartum period. Body condition change was significantly (P.05) influenced by postpartum stage, calving season and body condition score at calving. This study suggests that body condition scoring of dairy cows can provide practitioners with a good overwiew of several aspects of herd management. The process was easy, quick (10 to 15 seconds per cow), repeatable and non expensive to perform. By utilizing this process, one can assess weight gain or loss, determine the success of various nutritional programs, and avoid the negative effects of under or over feeding on cows health, production and fecundity.
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