Hussein H A, Westphal A, Staufenbiel R
Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt.
Aust Vet J. 2013 May;91(5):185-9. doi: 10.1111/avj.12033.
The validity of the body condition score (BCS) for evaluating subcutaneous fat has been questioned because of its subjectivity. With the advent of ultrasonography, backfat thickness (BFT) can be objectively measured and used to assess the energy status of dairy cows in conjunction with BCS.
Determine the relationship between BCS and ultrasound measurements of BFT throughout the lactation cycle.
Cows (n = 1123) were selected randomly and classified according to their lactation stage into four different groups. BCS was determined using a 5-point scale and BFT measurements were obtained using a 5-MHz linear transducer.
The correlation coefficient (r) for the relationship between BCS and BFT varied according to the stage of lactation. There was a high correlation (r = 0.96-0.98) and relationship (r(2) = 0.92-0.96) between BCS and BFT. The highest correlation was found at BFT values of 10-35 mm and BCS of 2-4.5 units.
BCS is a practical tool for evaluating body condition; furthermore, it may be as valid as BFT for the estimation of subcutaneous fat in Holstein dairy cows over time.
由于身体状况评分（BCS）具有主观性，其用于评估皮下脂肪的有效性受到质疑。随着超声检查技术的出现，背膘厚度（BFT）可以客观测量，并与BCS一起用于评估奶牛的能量状态。
确定整个泌乳周期中BCS与BFT超声测量值之间的关系。
随机选择奶牛（n = 1123），并根据其泌乳阶段分为四个不同组。使用5分制确定BCS，并使用5兆赫线性换能器获得BFT测量值。
BCS与BFT之间关系的相关系数（r）因泌乳阶段而异。BCS与BFT之间存在高度相关性（r = 0.96 - 0.98）和关联度（r² = 0.92 - 0.96）。在BFT值为10 - 35毫米且BCS为2 - 4.5单位时发现最高相关性。
BCS是评估身体状况的实用工具；此外，随着时间推移，它在估计荷斯坦奶牛皮下脂肪方面可能与BFT一样有效。
