Predicting Ewe Body Condition Score Using Lifetime Liveweight and Liveweight Change, and Previous Body Condition Score Record

Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
Jimmy SemakulaPaul Richard Kenyon

Abstract

The body condition score (BCS) in sheep (Ovis aries) is a widely used subjective measure of body condition. Body condition score and liveweight have been reported to be statistically and often linearly related in ewes. Therefore, it was hypothesized that current BCS could be accurately and indirectly predicted using a ewe's lifetime liveweight, liveweight change, and previous BCS record. Ewes born between 2011 and 2012 (n = 11,798) were followed from 8 months to approximately 67 months of age in New Zealand. Individual ewe data was collected on liveweight and body condition scores at each stage of the annual cycle (pre-breeding, pregnancy diagnosis, pre-lambing, and weaning). Linear regression models were fitted to predict BCS at a given ewe age and stage of the annual cycle using a ewe's lifetime liveweight records (liveweight alone models). Further, linear models were then fitted using previous BCS and changes in liveweight, in addition to the lifetime liveweight records (combined models). Using the combined models improved (p < 0.01) the R2 value by 39.8% (from 0.32 to 0.45) and lowered the average prediction error by 10% to 12% (from 0.29 to 0.26 body condition scores). However, a significant portion of the variability in B...Continue Reading

References

Feb 11, 2010·Advances in Health Sciences Education : Theory and Practice·Geoff Norman
Jun 23, 2015·Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling·D L J AlexanderDavid A Winkler
Dec 19, 2015·Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics·Anne-Gaëlle DosneMats O Karlsson
Nov 23, 2017·Frontiers in Veterinary Science·Amy D HagermanKamina K Johnson

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