Abstract
Twenty eight non-lactating and non-pregnant adult Serra da Estrela ewes, ranging in body condition score (BCS) from 1 to 4 were used to study the relationships between BCS, live weight (LW), body composition and fat partition. Ewes were slaughtered and their kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF), sternal fat (STF) and omental plus mesenteric fat (OMF) were separated and weighed. Left sides of carcasses as well as the respective lumbar joints were then dissected into muscle, bone and subcutaneous (SCF) and intermuscular fat (IMF). The relationship between LW and BCS was studied using data from 1,396 observations on 63 ewes from the same flock and it was found to be linear. Regression analysis was also used to describe the relationships among BCS and/or LW and weights (kg) and percentages in empty body weight (EBW) of dissected tissues. The prediction of weights and percentages in EBW of total fat (TF) and of all fat depots afforded by BCS was better than that provided by LW. Only the weight of muscle and the percentage of bone in the EBW were more efficiently predicted by LW than by BCS. IMF represented the largest fat depot with a BCS of 1 and 2, whereas SCF was the most important site of fat deposition with a BCS of 3 and 4. Allometric coefficients for each fat depot in TF suggest that the fat deposition order in ewes from this breed is: IMF, OMF, SCF and KKCF. Results demonstrate that BCS is a better predictor than LW of body reserves in this breed and that LJ is a suitable anatomical region to evaluate BCS.
Highlights
It is well recognized that, under farm conditions, body condition score (BCS) is an important tool to assess the adequacy of feeding programs, in production systems where the availability of feeds are not constant
In most studies BCS demonstrate to provide a better prediction of body composition than live weight (LW) (Russel et al, 1969; Teixeira et al, 1989; Sanson et al, 1993) but Frutos et al (1997) found that LW was more accurate to estimate body composition and fat depots in Churra breed
The experiment reported here was designed to study the accuracy of BCS, LW, composition of Lumbar joint (LJ), and sternal fat to estimate body reserves, as well as to characterize fat partition in different BCS, in the Portuguese sheep breed Serra da Estrela, the top sheep dairy breed in Portugal
Summary
It is well recognized that, under farm conditions, body condition score (BCS) is an important tool to assess the adequacy of feeding programs, in production systems where the availability of feeds are not constant. This result is similar to those observed by Russel et al (1969), Teixeira et al (1989) and Sanson et al (1993, with a 1 to 9 scores scale), for Scottish Blackface, Aragonesa and Western-range ewes, respectively, but is greater than those recorded by Peart (1970), MLC (1983), Caldeira and Portugal (1991), Oregui et al (1991) and Frutos et al (1997), in different sheep breeds.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
