FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2016; 58(Suppl 1); 60; doi: 10.1186/s13028-016-0241-4

Correlations between cresty neck scores and post-mortem nape fat measurements in horses, obtained after photographic image analysis.

Abstract: Obesity and emaciation in horses have major detrimental effects on health and morbidity, reproductive failure, work performance or carcass quality. Scoring is a current management tool used to assess and monitor equine body condition due to its simplicity and low cost. However, accurate assessment of obesity remains a challenge, even though a number of approaches have been tested, particularly for research purposes on adiposity. Their merit is usually validated by comparison with standard scoring methods. The overall aim of this study was to establish the correlation between post-mortem nape fat measurements obtained after photographic image analysis and cresty neck score (CNS) in horses. Data were collected from seventeen horses with a hot carcass weight of 165 ± 51 kg. Pre-slaughter CNS measurements were obtained using a six-point scale (from 0 to 5). Image capture was performed post-mortem, in the slaughter line; for each carcass, images of the dorsal and medial views were collected and afterwards transferred to a computer for analysis. After outlining the cresty neck fat, its area, major axis and thickness were determined. Correlation coefficients between nape fat measurements, CNS and carcass fatness were determined. Results: The horses in the study show similar variation for CNS and hot carcass weight [Coefficient of variation (CV) = 32 and 31 %, respectively], but a high variation for carcass fattening (CV = 41 %). The nape fat area measurement was the parameter exhibiting the greatest variation (CV = 50 %). Correlations established between CNS and the variables tested revealed the existence of moderate to strong correlations among CNS, nape fat measurements, and carcass fatness. The highest correlation coefficients were found between CNS and nape fat thickness (r = 0.882; P < 0.01). The linear regression between CNS and nape fat thickness accounted for 77 % of the recorded variation for nape fat thickness. Conclusions: The present study showed that there is a strong correlation between horse CNS and post-mortem nape fat measurements or carcass fatness.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2016-10-20 PubMed ID: 27766984PubMed Central: PMC5073977DOI: 10.1186/s13028-016-0241-4Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper analyses the relationship between the cresty neck score (CNS) of horses, a measure of body condition, and post-mortem measurements of neck fat. It was found that there is a strong correlation between the two, which provides a more accurate method of assessing horse obesity.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study was conducted to gauge the correlation between cresty neck scores (CNS), a tool for assessing horse body condition, and post-mortem nape fat measurements, derived from photographic image analysis. The aim was to improve the accuracy of obesity assessments in horses.
  • Data for the study was collected from seventeen horses. The weight of the meat obtained after slaughtering the horses (hot carcass weight), pre-slaughter cresty neck score measurements, and post-slaughter images of the slain bodies were recorded and analyzed.
  • CNS was measured on a six-point scale (from 0 to 5). The images were then transferred to a computer where fat areas, thickness, and major axes were pinpointed.
  • The study aimed to examine the correlation coefficients between CNS, nape fat measurements, and fatness of the carcass.

Results

  • The horses showed similar cresty neck score (CNS) and hot carcass weight variation, but displayed significant variance in carcass fattening. The nape fat area measurements showed the most variation.
  • The examination of correlations revealed moderate to strong links between CNS, nape fat measurements, and carcass fatness. The strongest correlation coefficients were between CNS and nape fat thickness (r = 0.882; P < 0.01).
  • The linear regression between the CNS and nape fat thickness accounted for 77% of the nape fat thickness variation recorded.

Conclusions

  • The findings suggest a strong correlation between horse CNS and post-mortem measurements of nape fat and carcass fatness.
  • This correlation, once validated, might improve body condition scoring methods, particularly for assessing obesity in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Silva SR, Payan-Carreira R, Guedes CM, Coelho S, Santos AS. (2016). Correlations between cresty neck scores and post-mortem nape fat measurements in horses, obtained after photographic image analysis. Acta Vet Scand, 58(Suppl 1), 60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-016-0241-4

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: Suppl 1
Pages: 60
PII: 60

Researcher Affiliations

Silva, Severiano R
  • Zootecnia Department, Centro de Ciência Animal E Veterinária, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal.
Payan-Carreira, Rita
  • Zootecnia Department, Centro de Ciência Animal E Veterinária, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal. rtpayan@gmail.com.
Guedes, Cristina M
  • Zootecnia Department, Centro de Ciência Animal E Veterinária, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal.
Coelho, Simão
  • Zootecnia Department, Centro de Ciência Animal E Veterinária, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal.
Santos, Ana Sofia
  • EUVG-Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, Campus Universitário, Bloco B, Lordemão, 3020-210, Coimbra, Portugal.
  • CITAB, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal.

MeSH Terms

  • Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology
  • Animals
  • Body Composition
  • Body Weights and Measures / standards
  • Body Weights and Measures / veterinary
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Linear Models
  • Photography / veterinary

References

This article includes 24 references
  1. Argo CM. Feeding thin and starved horses. In: Geor RJ, Harris PA, Coenen M, editors. Equine applied and clinical nutrition. Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd; 2013. pp. 503–511.
  2. Argo CM, Dugdale AHA, Curtis GC, Morrison PK. Evaluating body composition in living horses: where are we up to?. In: Craigie C, Bunger L, editors. Maltin CA. Farm Animal imaging. Copenhagen. Quality Meat Scotland: Ingliston, UK; 2014. pp. 12–17.
  3. Robin CA, Ireland JL, Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR. Prevalence of and risk factors for equine obesity in Great Britain based on owner-reported body condition scores.. Equine Vet J 2015 Mar;47(2):196-201.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12275pubmed: 24735219google scholar: lookup
  4. McGregor-Argo C. Appraising the portly pony: body condition and adiposity.. Vet J 2009 Feb;179(2):158-60.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.04.007pubmed: 18555713google scholar: lookup
  5. Dugdale AH, Curtis GC, Cripps P, Harris PA, Argo CM. Effect of dietary restriction on body condition, composition and welfare of overweight and obese pony mares.. Equine Vet J 2010 Oct;42(7):600-10.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00110.xpubmed: 20840575google scholar: lookup
  6. Henneke DR, Potter GD, Kreider JL, Yeates BF. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares.. Equine Vet J 1983 Oct;15(4):371-2.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01826.xpubmed: 6641685google scholar: lookup
  7. Carter RA, Geor RJ, Burton Staniar W, Cubitt TA, Harris PA. Apparent adiposity assessed by standardised scoring systems and morphometric measurements in horses and ponies.. Vet J 2009 Feb;179(2):204-10.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.029pubmed: 18440844google scholar: lookup
  8. Giles SL, Nicol CJ, Rands SA, Harris PA. Assessing the seasonal prevalence and risk factors for nuchal crest adiposity in domestic horses and ponies using the Cresty Neck Score.. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jan 31;11:13.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-015-0327-7pmc: PMC4347557pubmed: 25636243google scholar: lookup
  9. Morgan R, Keen J, McGowan C. Equine metabolic syndrome.. Vet Rec 2015 Aug 15;177(7):173-9.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.103226pmc: PMC4552932pubmed: 26273009google scholar: lookup
  10. Carroll CL, Huntington PJ. Body condition scoring and weight estimation of horses.. Equine Vet J 1988 Jan;20(1):41-5.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01451.xpubmed: 3366105google scholar: lookup
  11. Fernandes KA, Rogers CW, Gee EK, Bolwell CF, Thomas DG. Body condition and morphometric measures of adiposity in a cohort of pony club horses and ponies in New Zealand. Proc New Zeal Soc Anim Prod 2015;75:195–199.
  12. Dugdale AH, Curtis GC, Harris PA, Argo CM. Assessment of body fat in the pony: part I. Relationships between the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, body composition and body condition.. Equine Vet J 2011 Sep;43(5):552-61.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00330.xpubmed: 21496091google scholar: lookup
  13. Gee EK, Fennessy PF, Morel PC, Grace ND, Firth EC, Mogg TD. Chemical body composition of 20 Thoroughbred foals at 160 days of age, and preliminary investigation of techniques used to predict body fatness.. N Z Vet J 2003 Jun;51(3):125-31.
    doi: 10.1080/00480169.2003.36351pubmed: 16032311google scholar: lookup
  14. Westervelt R, Stouffer JR, Hintz HF, Schryver HF. Estimating fatness in horses and ponies. J Anim Sci 1976;43:781–785.
    doi: 10.2527/jas1976.434781xgoogle scholar: lookup
  15. Gentry LR, Thompson DL, Gentry GT. The relationship between body condition score and ultrasonic fat measurements in mares of high versus low body condition. J Equine Vet Sci 2004;24:198–203.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2004.04.009google scholar: lookup
  16. Quaresma M, Payan-Carreira R, Silva SR. Relationship between ultrasound measurements of body fat reserves and body condition score in female donkeys.. Vet J 2013 Aug;197(2):329-34.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.12.031pubmed: 23395347google scholar: lookup
  17. Dugdale AH, Grove-White D, Curtis GC, Harris PA, Argo CM. Body condition scoring as a predictor of body fat in horses and ponies.. Vet J 2012 Nov;194(2):173-8.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.03.024pubmed: 22578691google scholar: lookup
  18. Bohuslávek Z. Analysis of the commercial grades for beef carcasses. Czech J Anim Sci 2002;2002:112–118.
  19. Sarriés MV, Beriain MJ. Carcass characteristics and meat quality of male and female foals.. Meat Sci 2005 May;70(1):141-52.
    doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2004.12.006pubmed: 22063290google scholar: lookup
  20. Mazan MR, Deveney EF, DeWitt S, Bedenice D, Hoffman A. Energetic cost of breathing, body composition, and pulmonary function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2004 Jul;97(1):91-7.
    doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00629.2003pubmed: 14966015google scholar: lookup
  21. Znamirowska A. Prediction of horse carcass composition using linear measurements.. Meat Sci 2005 Mar;69(3):567-70.
    doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2004.10.008pubmed: 22062997google scholar: lookup
  22. Verhees E. The relationship between body condition score and real time ultrasound measurements in different horse types and an inventory of data of ultrasound, body condition and morphological body measurements from Garrano horses in northern Portugal. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and Wageningen University; 2008.
  23. Giles SL, Rands SA, Nicol CJ, Harris PA. Obesity prevalence and associated risk factors in outdoor living domestic horses and ponies.. PeerJ 2014;2:e299.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.299pmc: PMC3970797pubmed: 24711963google scholar: lookup
  24. Morrinson P, Harris P, Maltin CA, Grove-White D, Argo CMC. Relationships between body condition score and regional adipose depots in the horse. In: Maltin CA, Craigie C, Bunger L., editors. Farm Animal imaging. Kaposvar. Quality Meat Scotland, Ingliston, UK; 2013. p. 93.

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Harada K, Kanemitsu S, Akioka K, Fujita K, Nishi Y, Taura Y, Sasaki N. Epidemiological survey, general blood biochemistry, and histological examination of slaughtered heavy horse breeds with hemorrhage in the adipose tissue in the crest of the neck. J Equine Sci 2022 Apr;33(1):7-12.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.33.7pubmed: 35510075google scholar: lookup
  2. Fitzgerald DM, Anderson ST, Sillence MN, de Laat MA. The cresty neck score is an independent predictor of insulin dysregulation in ponies. PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0220203.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220203pubmed: 31339945google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,129 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.