Development of an index based on ultrasonographic measurements for the objective appraisal of body condition in Andalusian horses

Tamara Martin-Gimenez,Ignacio De Blas,Carla N Aguirre-Pascasio

doi:10.5424/sjar/2017154-11732

Tamara Martin-Gimenez, Ignacio De Blas + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2017154-11732

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Abstract

Body condition scoring (BCS) is an indirect measure of the level of subcutaneous fat; however, by measuring the subcutaneous fat thicknesses (SFT), the precision of the degree of fatness assessment is improved. The aims were: 1) to develop an alternative body fat scoring index (BFSI) based on ultrasonographic measurements; 2) to assess the agreement between BCS and the new index applied to Andalusian horses; 3) to adjust the BCS cut-off values (if necessary) for overweight and obesity in this breed. One hundred and sixty-six Andalusian horses were included in this cross sectional study. On each horse, BCS, body fat percentage (BF%) and ultrasonography of SFT at localized deposits were evaluated. According to BFSI five possible body categories were established. Only one horse (0.6%) was classified as emaciated, 9.0% as thin, 74.7% as normal, 11.4% as overweight and 4.2% as obese. Despite higher BCS and SFT values were observed compared to other breeds, most of the horses evaluated presented a normal body condition under the new BFSI. BCS and BFSI were significantly associated (p<0.001), however, the concordance was low (weighted Cohen’s kappa coefficient, 0.262 ± 0.071; p=0.004). Using BFSI, obese horses had significantly greater BF% than the rest of categories (p<0.001). BCS showed a good diagnostic accuracy for detection overweight (AUC = 0.759 ± 0.055; p<0.001) and obese (AUC = 0.878 ± 0.050; p=0.001) horses; redefining the cut-off values for overweight and obesity condition as 7.5/9 and 8.5/9 respectively in Andalusian horses.

Highlights

Body mass index (BMI) is the most common objective measure used to classify excess adiposity in human beings (Lau et al, 2007)
BMI has been applied in horses and ponies (Donaldson et al, 2004; Carter et al, 2009a; Thatcher et al, 2012; Banse & McFarlane, 2014), the main system to assess body condition in horses is based on assigning a subjective body condition score (BCS)
The aims of this study were: 1) to develop an alternative body scoring index based on the ultrasonographic evaluation of localized subcutaneous fat deposits; 2) to assess the agreement between BCS and the new index applied to Andalusian horses; 3) to adjust the BCS cut-off values for overweight and obesity in this breed

Summary

Introduction

Body mass index (BMI) is the most common objective measure used to classify excess adiposity in human beings (Lau et al, 2007). BMI has been applied in horses and ponies (Donaldson et al, 2004; Carter et al, 2009a; Thatcher et al, 2012; Banse & McFarlane, 2014), the main system to assess body condition in horses is based on assigning a subjective body condition score (BCS) This method consists in evaluating the deposition of subcutaneous fat in specific body regions and the subsequent assignment of a score considering established criteria through a palpation and visual assessment (Carter & Dugdale, 2013). In the case of BCS, its inherent subjectivity and, the semi-quantitative nature of this evaluation, lead to the belief that these scoring systems are unreliable and are necessary clinically more applicable and useful subdivisions to differentiate horses with higher scores (Burkholder, 2000; Dugdale et al, 2012)

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