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A retrospective study of body condition scores (BCS), milk yield, and lactation records of 34 purebreds and crossbred dairy Murrah buffaloes, and climatic parameters were used to determine their relationships with one another. The visual assessments developed for Murrah buffalo was used in BCS determination. Significant correlations (P<0.01) between all parameters except rainfall were found to have weak to moderate monotonic relationships: BCS was negatively correlated to milk yield and affected milk yield by 0.858 kg/day per unit change in BCS. Milk yield was positively affected by early lactation while BCS negatively affected. In early lactation stage, the estimated rate of milk yield increase was 1.519 kg/day and decrease in BCS by 0.267 units. Regarding breed differences, purebred milk yield was positively affected and BCS negatively affected. Purebreds produced significantly more milk (5.44 kg/day) than crossbreds (4.98 kg/day). The highest milk yield was observed both in March for purebreds and crossbreds while, the lowest in August and October for purebreds and crossbreds, respectively. BCS and milk yield were positively correlated with temperature while negatively for relative humidity. In conclusion, BCS, breed, stages of lactation, temperature, and relative humidity have significant effects to milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular body mass (BM) monitoring plays a key role in preventative health care of zoo animals. In some species, including African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), the process of weighing can be challenging, and alternative methods such as visual body condition scoring (BCS) have been developed. We investigated the temporal development of both parameters regarding correlation patterns between them, and their suitability as monitoring measures in dependence of an elephant's life stage. While BM is more suitable in calves and juveniles under the age of 8 years, both BM and BCS are considered equally reliable in adult elephants. In elephants over the age of 40 years, BCS might be more suitable for assessing the physical status. Independent of species and sex, juvenile zoo elephants grow in BM nearly linearly with age, and reach a higher BM at an earlier age compared with conspecifics of free‐ranging and semi‐captive populations in the countries of origin. The BCS typically remains constant during this life stage, seemingly unaffected by growth. In adult animals, breeding females have a lower BM and BCS than nonbreeders, and BM and BCS typically indicate fluctuations in the same direction. In geriatric elephants (>40 years) a drop in BCS occurs commonly, while BM may even increase in this life stage. We recommend regular body mass recording in zoo elephants to enhance our knowledge of body mass development and allow the formulation of objective practical recommendations. BCS presents a valuable and simple tool for complementary monitoring of an elephant's condition, especially in adult and geriatric individuals. Research Highlights: We strongly recommend regular body mass and BCS monitoring for zoo elephants.Suitability of BM and BCS monitoring varies with life stage of an elephant.Molar status seems to influence BCS in a similar way as BM.Body masses of European zoo elephants develop on higher level compared to more extensively kept population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effect of direct fed microbials and enzymes on milk yield, milk composition, body condition score and Escherichia coli of dairy cows. Cows were set up to have two experimental that were defined as control and direct fed microbials and enzymes. Supplemented cows were fed the DFM-Enzyme 4 wk prior to the expected calving date through months 10 of lactation. The amount of direct fed microbials and enzymes concentrate added to treated forages was 2 kg/ton of forage. The results have shown that there were greater statistically differences in evening and daily total milk yield (P<0,01) and morning milk were not influenced (P>0,05) by treatment. The direct fed microbials and enzymes group increased 8% more daily total milk yield comparing to the control group. Milk fat yield and protein yield were significantly increased (P<0,05). However, there was no significant effect of another milk components (P>0,05). Body Condition Score and Escherichia coli were unaffected by dietary treatment. In conclusion, the feed additives direct fed microbials and enzymes improve daily milk yield and stimulate milk composition in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We suggest a 'screening test' to examine large data files with clinical ratings for the occurrence of rater-introduced bias prior to using the data for quantitative analyses. The test is based on a statistical model in which a well-standardized interval-scale outcome (for example, milk yield) is related to clinical ratings (for example, body condition scores) obtained from multiple contexts (for example, dairy herds). Findings: 84,968 calvings from 279 herds, with subsequent body condition scores performed by 117 veterinarians within the first 21 days postpartum were analyzed with a multilevel random coefficient regression model. The model included an independent variable, where body condition score was centered within veterinarian. This is a so-called comparison effect to describe possible rater-introduced bias in the body condition scores. A highly significant comparison effect was found for second and older parities, indicating occurrence of possible rater-introduced bias in this large multi-herd data file.Conclusions: A within-group centering technique (the comparison effect) appeared to be useful for discriminating between biased and unbiased clinical scores. In some cases, this test for bias should prevent further analysis of the data and divert the focus of study to the calibration of raters or alternative study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the body condition score (BCS) of ewes before and during the mating season on their reproductive performance under an extensive production system. In this study, 240 Kivircik sheep from the flocks of two breeders were used for over a 2-year period. The flocks were fed under extensive conditions on natural pastures throughout the year. The ewes were synchronized in two different periods, one of which was 45 days before the other. Before the introduction of rams to the ewes, the ewes were weighed after measuring their BCS. Detailed records were kept for every flock in each year. We found significant effects of BCS on pregnancy rate, lambing rate ( P < 0.05) and fecundity ( P < 0.05). The BCS for the highest pregnancy, lambing rate, and fecundity was determined between 2.01 and 3.00, while the lowest rates for these traits were ≤1.50. The highest rates of the pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and fecundity and gestation productivity were 75.9%, 70.9%, 1.11 and 3.34 kg, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal study was conducted of the nematode faecal egg counts (FECs) and body condition scores (BCSs) of goats of resource-poor farmers at Rust de Winter, Gauteng Province, Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal Province, and Kraaipan, North-West Province, South Africa. Periods of higher FECs occurred from December/January to March/April at Rust de Winter and at Impendle and from January to March at Kraaipan. Seasonal variations in body condition were evident in the goats at Impendle with the animals showing lower BCSs from June to October. The goats at Rust de Winter and at Kraaipan did not show clear seasonal variations, although the goats at Rust de Winter showed lower BCSs from mid-July to early December. The BCSs for Rust de Winter where the animals were grazed on a private farm were generally higher than those of the other sites, where communal grazing is practised. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]