Ideal Body Condition Score Research Articles

Diet composition, food intake, body condition, and fecal consistency in captive tapirs (Tapirus spp.) in UK collections

Intake measurements were carried out in 22 tapirs from seven UK zoological collections. Dry matter intake (DMI) ranged from 48 to 86 g/kg(0.75)/d. Across collections, the highest proportion of the ingested diet consisted of pelleted feeds (including grains and bread) at 46+/-17% DMI, followed by commercial produce at 26+/-12% DMI, roughage (excluding browse) at 17+/-11% DMI, and browse at 11+/-11% DMI. The proportion of roughage, crude protein, crude fiber, and neutral detergent fiber levels in the diets investigated were well below levels recommended for domestic horses and other ungulates. Intakes of digestible energy (DE) as estimated from food nutrients using of a standard equation for domestic horses ranged from 0.58 to 0.88 MJ/DE/kg(0.75)/d, with many individuals exceeding the assumed maintenance requirement of 0.6 MJ/DE/kg(0.75)/d for hindgut fermenters. At values exceeding this DE intake, animals had higher than ideal body condition scores (BCS). Animals with higher BCS (i.e. more obese animals) generally had higher fecal scores (FS) (i.e. softer feces), and both BCS and FS were positively correlated to DMI and calculated DE intake. This suggests that the population studied was generally overfed, with resulting obesity and softer fecal consistency. The use of highly digestible feeds such as commercial produce and pelleted feeds should be restricted in the diets of these animals and roughage intake promoted in order to attempt to achieve normal BCS and FS in this captive population.

Differences in Taurine Synthesis Rate among Dogs Relate to Differences in Their Maintenance Energy Requirement ,3

Diet-induced (taurine deficiency) dilated cardiomyopathy is reported more in large than small dogs possibly because taurine biosynthesis rate (TBR) is lower in large than small dogs. The TBR in 6 mongrels (37.9 ± 2.1 kg) and 6 beagles (12.8 ± 0.4 kg) was determined from the fractional dilution rate of urinary [1,2-2H2]-taurine, (d4-tau). All dogs were given a 15.6% protein, 0.60% sulfur amino acid (SAA) diet in amounts to maintain an ideal body condition score. After 3 mo, 14.6 mg/kg body weight of d4-tau was given orally and TBR determined from d4-tau to taurine ratio in urine collected each d for 6 d. Enrichments of d4-tau were determined by GC-MS. Thereafter, mongrels and beagles were paired by ranking of SAA intake per metabolic body weight per kg0.75. Each pair received the same amount of diet/kg0.75 for 2 wk, then TBR was again determined. Concentrations of taurine in plasma, blood, and urine and concentrations of plasma thiols were measured during each TBR determination. In Expt. 1, TBR and taurine concentrations in plasma and urine of mongrels were lower (P < 0.05) than those of beagles. In Expt. 2, TBR and taurine concentrations in blood and plasma of mongrels were lower (P < 0.05) than beagles. Together, the results support the hypothesis that large compared with small dogs have lower TBR when fed diets near-limiting in dietary SAA, but adequate to maintain ideal body condition.

Reproductive patterns and reproductive pathologies of stray bitches in the tropics

The objectives of this study were to determine the annual reproductive pattern and to estimate the frequency of reproductive pathologies in female mongrel stray dogs under tropical conditions. The genital tracts of 300 mongrel bitches from a municipal dog pound were examined post-mortem from January to December 2003. Season of the year, age, size, and body condition score (BCS) were recorded for each dog. The year was divided into three seasons: warm-dry (March–June), warm-humid (July–October), and fresh-humid (November–February). Distribution of estrus periods was not influenced by any of the factors studied (i.e. season, age, size, BCS). A significantly lower number of pregnancies were recorded during the warm-dry season, probably as a consequence of embryo resorption. Underweight animals had a significantly lower percentage of pregnancies than bitches of ideal BCS. More ovulations per bitch occurred during the warm-humid season than during the other seasons of the year, probably due to climatic factors. Bitches of medium and large size had more ovulations than those of small size. Of the 300 bitches examined, 43.5% had one or more genital pathologies. The most frequent pathologies found in the ovary, uterus, and vagina were epoöphoron cysts (6.7%), serosal inclusion cysts (5.0%), and transmissible venereal tumors (15.3%), but the capacity of the females to come into estrus or to become pregnant was not affected by these conditions. We concluded that stray domestic bitches in the tropics were not seasonal breeders, but their reproductive pattern was apparently modified by environmental factors such as temperature and probably photoperiod. Although several bitches in the present study had reproductive pathology, the most prevalent pathologies did not adversely reproductive capacity.

Effect of protein level in prepartum diets on postpartum performance of dairy cows (1999)

Seventy-five Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the level of dietary protein required to support metabolic functions and maintain body reserves during the periparturient period and subsequent lactation. Cows fed the 14.7% protein diet prepartum had a more ideal body condition score during the entire prepartum and postpartum periods. During the first 90 days of lactation, few consistent differences occurred among prepartum diets for milk production, but the response to rbST was greatest for cows fed 11.7, 13.7 or 14.7% protein prepartum. Full 305-day lactation records showed the most milk, fat, and protein for cows consuming 13.7 or 14.7% protein prepartum. Results of our study indicate that using 13.7 to 14.7% crude protein with approximately 45% undegradable protein in the close-up diet for dairy cattle produces beneficial outcomes during the subsequent lactation.