Low body condition scoring as a detrimental factor to reproductive performance and behavior in dairy cattle and Seidi Buffaloes

Abstract EN

Background: Body condition scoring (BCS) is an important part of modern dairy management.

BCS is an indicator of the energy reserve of dairy cattle.

In dairy cattle (Bos Taurus) and buffaloes (Bos indicus) BCS indicates the amount of fat cover on skeletal parts and is directly related to reproductive performance.

The aims of study: To estimate the effect of BCS on reproductive performance in cross-bred cattle and Seidi buffaloes ; in trial to clarify the role of acuteness of tail angle associated with low BCS.

Methods : Cross- bred cattle (50) and Seidi buffaloes (50) from 19 small scale dairy herds were examined from March to May for BCS.

Morphological measures were assessed by sights and touch to evaluate each animal scale.

This scale is ranging from 1 to 5 with 0.5 increments and being 1: very poor, 2: poor, 3: moderate, 4: good, and 5: very good.

Photos to side and rear views were taken, skeletal parts (pelvic bone, tail head and short ribs) were manually examined.

While morphometrical measures of eight check points plus the tail angle were measured.

Main Results: Animals with body condition scoring 2 or less had more acute angle of the tail and had higher % of postpartum urovagina and anestrus when compared with that of high body condition scores.

Conclusion : Low BCS and associated acute angle of the tail (horizontal position of the vulva) lead to soiled vulva, urovagina and endometritis, and consequent reduced reproductive performance in dairy cows and buffaloes.