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Body composition and performance of autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian dairy cows during lactation: velocity of ultrasound measurement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

W.E. Ivings ,
M.J. Gibb  and
M.S. Dhanoa
W.E. Ivings
Affiliation:
A.F.R.C. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
M.J. Gibb
Affiliation:
A.F.R.C. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
M.S. Dhanoa
Affiliation:
A.F.R.C. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
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Extract

Measurements of the velocity of ultrasound (VOS) through live animals have been shown to provide good estimates of the proportions of dissected fat and muscle in carcasses of beef cattle (Fursey, Miles, Page and Fisher, 1991). The use of this technique to measure more accurately the changes in body composition and energy content of the dairy cow over lactation would greatly assist in the interpretation of nutritional studies. Estimation of body reserves from live weight (LW) can be inaccurate due to changes in gut fill, tissue water contents and reproductive tissues, and condition scoring is highly subjective. The present study investigates the relationships of LW and VOS measurements at 3 sites with dissected fat and muscle in the half carcass and chemically determined fat and crude protein (CP) in the whole carcass and empty body.

Type
Dairy Cow Metabolism and Nutrition
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1992 , March 1992 , pp. 103
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1992

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References

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