Abstract #T525

# T525
Relationship between body condition score and body fat depots in Pelibuey ewes.
Gamaliel Antonio-Molina1, Alfonso Chay-Canul*1, Juan Ku-Vera2, Armando Gomez-Vazquez1, Aldenamar Cruz-Hernandez1, 1División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Tabsco, Mexico, 2Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Yucatán, Mexico,.

Twenty-eight nonlactating and non-pregnant adult Pelibuey ewes, ranging in body condition score (BCS) from 1 (thin) to 5 (obese) were used to study the relationship between body condition score and body fat depots. The animals were humanely slaughtered following the Mexican Official Norms; before slaughter, shrunk BW and BCS were measure after feed and water deprivation for 24 h. The BCS was evaluated using palpation by 2 trained evaluators. Data recorded at slaughter were weights of viscera and carcass. Internal fat (IF, internal adipose tissue) was dissected, weighed and grouped as mesenteric (MF), omental (OF) and kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF). Carcass was then split at the dorsal midline in 2 equal halves, weighed, and chilled at 1°C during 24 h. After refrigeration, the left half of the carcass was completely dissected into subcutaneous and intermuscular fat (carcass fat, CF), muscle, bone and each component weighed separately. Dissected tissues of the left carcass were adjusted as whole carcass. The relationships between BCS and with body fat depots were investigated using regression analysis, with PROC REG of SAS. The BW and BCS at slaughter were highly correlated (r = 0.92). The regression equation for estimating BW from BCS was BW (kg) = 23.46 (±1.62)+ 6.34 (±0.54) × BCS (r2: 0.84; RSD: 3.41; P: < 0.0001 and n = 28). All equations for relationship between BCS and body fat depots were significant (<0.0001) and the r2 ranged from 0.87 for CF (RSD = 1.016 kg) to 0.96 for IF (RSD = 1.206). Because the intercept of equations that involved BCS and IF, OF, MF and KKCF were no significant, we fitted a linear regression trough the origin. The regression equation for estimating total body fat (TBF) from BCS were TBF (kg) = −2.64 (±0.911)+ 4.29 (±0.302) × BCS (r2: 0.89; RSD: 1.916; P: < 0.0001 and n = 28). These results indicated that BCS could be used as a predictor of the main body fat reserves in Pelibuey ewes.

Key Words: body condition, body energy reserves, energy balance