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The use of velocity of ultrasound to monitor body composition in lactating cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

A. Cooper ,
K. Aston ,
M.S. Dhanoa  and
A.B. McAllan
A. Cooper
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Enviromental Research, Trawscoed Research Farm, Trawscoed, Aberystwyth SY23 4LL;
K. Aston
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Enviromental Research, Trawscoed Research Farm, Trawscoed, Aberystwyth SY23 4LL;
M.S. Dhanoa
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Enviromental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY2 3 3EB
A.B. McAllan
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Enviromental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY2 3 3EB
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Extract

Previous studies have shown that using non-invasive techniques such as the measurement of the velocity of ultrasound (VOS) through live animals (Sim. 1983) can, in the body of the lactating dairy cow, provide reliable estimates of chemical composition and energy content (Ivings,Gibb,Dhanoa and Fisher.1993). In this study VOS was used to monitor the changes in body composition of dairy cows fed concentrates containing differing levels of crude protein (CP).

Fifty-five Holstein-Friesian cows were offered 5kg of fresh concentrate containing 156(L),245(M) or 338(H)g CP/kg dry matter (DM) together with grass silage (162g CP/kg DM,D value 0.723,ME 12.3 MJ/kg DM and pH 3.72) offered ad-libitum over weeks 4 to 21 of lactation. There were five treatments designated LL,LH,MM,HL, HH with a change of CP level where appropriate in week 13. Five cows were selected from each treatment and VOS measurements taken from two sites on the hindquarters (B and Bl) at weeks 12,15,18 and 21. Liveweights were also taken at this time.

Type
Cattle
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1994 , March 1994 , pp. 147
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1994

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References

Ivings, W.E.,Gibb, M.J., Dhanoa, M.S., and Fisher, A.V.,1993. Relationships between velocity of ultrasound in live lactating dairy cows and some post-slaughter measurements of body composition. Animal Production. 56:9–16.Google Scholar
Sim, G. 1983. The use of ultrasound to predict the carcass composition of live cattle - a review. Animal Breeding Abstracts 51: 853–875.Google Scholar