A body condition score (BCS) system in Murrah buffaloes.

Abstract

A new body condition score (BCS) system was developed for Murrah buffaloes. The skeletal check points were identifi ed based on the anatomical features and carcass fat reserves. A new BCS chart with a 1-5 scale having 0.5 increments examining eight skeletal check points was developed. The ultrasonographic assessment of the precision of BCS system in 10 buffaloes for each point of the 1-5 scale indicated that BCS adequately refl ected the actual fat reserves. The infl uence of body condition score at calving (BCS) on the reproductive and productive performance studied in 24 (4 x 6 completely randomised design) and 40 (4 x 10 completely randomized design) buffaloes, respectively, revealed that buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5-3.99 showed the best performance among the four BCSc groups with earlier (P < 0.05) resumption of ovarian activity (29.33 days), a shorter (P < 0.01) postpartum an estrus period (46.66 days), a shorter (P < 0.05) service period (58.83 days), fewer services per conception (1.50), a higher rate of fi rst service conception (66.66%) with higher (P < 0.01) breeding effi ciency (90.64 percent). The milk production traits like total milk yield up to 18 weeks of lactation (1658.67 kg), 305 day predicted lactation yield (3187.3 kg), peak milk yield (16.5 kg), milk protein and solids not fat were also higher in BCSc of 3.5-3.99 followed by the BCSc groups of 4.0-4.49, 3.0-3.49 and 2.5-2.99.