Abstract
Reliable techniques for estimating energy reserves in cattle are essential for producers and veterinarians. In this study, manual body condition scoring (BCS) was compared with two more quantifiable methods of estimating energy reserves in dairy cattle, namely ultrasonic measurement of backfat thickness (US) and a bespoke profile gauge (PG). Results from 115 cows showed that US and PG measurements were both related to BCS. Further work is required to determine whether either method replaces body condition scoring as the recommended on-farm method.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 54 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | Cattle Practice |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2014 |