English
Evaluation of Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness in Dairy Jennies during the Periparturient Period.
Abstract: The body condition score (BCS) represents a practical but subjective method for assessing body fat reserves. Real time ultrasonography (RTU) has been proposed as an accurate method to objectively measure subcutaneous fat (SF) thickness and predict body fat reserves in cows, horses and donkeys. The aim of the present study was to describe RTU measures of SF thickness during periparturient period in jennies. The present prospective cohort study evaluated six dairy jennies. SF RTU were performed at 15 and 7 days before the presumptive delivery, and 2, 15 and 30 days after delivery. A portable ultrasound machine and multifrequency linear transducer (5-7.5 MHz) was used. RTU images were obtained in six sites (S1-S6). Results at each time point were reported as mean ± standard deviation and compared through time. A total of 180 images were evaluated. RTU technique was easy to perform and well tolerated. No statistically significant differences were found of each site during time, except for S2 and S6a: S2 at T2 and S6a at T1 were significatively different to values obtained at T5. The RTU mean values were above those reported by others, suggesting major physio-logical challenges related to energy balance and fat mobilization in pregnant jennies bred for milking production. BCS and sites through observational time have shown a good and reliable association. Our study could give preliminary indications on fat reserves in different body locations evaluated thanks to RTU and it show no significative variation of SF thickness, in pregnant and lactating jennies.
Publication Date: 2022-05-26
PubMed ID: 35681823PubMed Central: PMC9179614DOI: 10.3390/ani12111359Google 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.
- 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.
This research study was aimed to measure subcutaneous fat thickness in dairy jennies using ultrasound during the periparturient period, the period immediately before and after childbirth. The procedure involved assessing the body condition score and capturing ultrasound images of subcutaneous fat at specific sites at different time points around the delivery period. The findings suggested stable subcutaneous fat thickness in pregnant and lactating jennies, indicating their ability to maintain energy balance and fat mobilization.
Objective and methodology of the study
- The study primarily aimed at objectively measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat (the layer of fat stored directly under the skin) in dairy jennies (female donkeys) during the periparturient period, effectively validating the body condition score (BCS), a commonly used but subjective method for assessing body fat reserves.
- The study used Real Time Ultrasonography (RTU) for this purpose as it’s known to be an accurate method and has been previously used in cows, horses, and donkeys.
- Six dairy jennies were part of this prospective cohort study, and RTU scans were performed on them at five different time points -15 and 7 days before the expected delivery, and 2, 15, and 30 days after delivery.
- Six different sites on the animal’s body were identified for these scans and a total of 180 images across all these time points and sites were evaluated.
Findings of the study
- Results showed that the RTU technique was effortless to perform and was well tolerated by the jennies, suggesting that it can be used as a reliable method
- Interestingly, no significant differences in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat were found over time, with two exceptions at site 2 (before delivery) and site 6a (after delivery). These differences, however, were only significantly different at the end of the period, not through it.
- The mean RTU values were found to be higher than those reported by other similar studies, implying that there could be greater physiological challenges related to energy balance and fat mobilization in pregnant jennies bred for milking production.
- The constancy in the thickness of subcutaneous fat indicates that pregnant and lactating jennies can maintain their energy balance and fat mobilization without significant variations, providing important insights into their physiological health.
Cite This Article
APA
Nocera I, Bonelli F, Turini L, Madrigali A, Aliboni B, Sgorbini M.
(2022).
Evaluation of Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness in Dairy Jennies during the Periparturient Period.
Animals (Basel), 12(11), 1359.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111359
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Via Santa Cecilia 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 29 references
- Thiemann A, Foxcroft A. Working across Europe to improve donkey welfare.. Vet Rec 2016 Sep 24;179(12):298-300.
- Muraro MA, Giampietro PG, Galli E. Soy formulas and nonbovine milk.. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002 Dec;89(6 Suppl 1):97-101.
- Lisuzzo A, Bonelli F, Sgorbini M, Nocera I, Cento G, Mazzotta E, Turini L, Martini M, Salari F, Morgante M, Badon T, Fiore E. Differences of the Plasma Total Lipid Fraction from Pre-Foaling to Post-Foaling Period in Donkeys.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jan 26;12(3).
- Turini L, Bonelli F, Nocera I, Battaglia F, Meucci V, Panzani D, Mele M, Sgorbini M. Evaluation of jennies' colostrum: IgG concentrations and absorption in the donkey foals. A preliminary study.. Heliyon 2020 Aug;6(8):e04598.
- Sgorbini M., Bonelli F., Rota A., Baragli P., Marchetti V., Corazza M. Hematology and clinical chemistry in Amiata donkey foals from birth to 2 months of age. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2013;33:35u201339. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2012.04.010.
- Bonelli F, Nocera I, Conte G, Panzani D, Sgorbini M. Relation between Apgar scoring and physical parameters in 44u00a0newborn Amiata donkey foals at birth.. Theriogenology 2020 Jan 15;142:310-314.
- Sgorbini M, Bonelli F, Percacini G, Pasquini A, Rota A. Maternal and Neonatal Evaluation of Derived Reactive Oxygen Metabolites and Biological Antioxidant Potential in Donkey Mares and Foals.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 3;11(10).
- Vitale V, Nocera I, Sgorbini M, Aliboni B, Laus F, Mannini A, Bazzano M. Ultrasonography Evaluation of Umbilical Structures in Clinically Healthy Donkey Foals during the First Week of Life.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 2;11(6).
- Liao Q, Li Z, Han Y, Deng L. Comparative Analysis of Serum Mineral and Biochemical Parameter Profiles Between Late Pregnant and Early Lactating Jennies.. J Equine Vet Sci 2021 Apr;99:103401.
- Fazio E., Medica P., Galvano E., Cravana C., Ferlazzo A. Changes in the cortisol and some biochemical patterns of pregnant and barren jennies (Equus asinus) Vet. Arh. 2011;81:563u2013574.
- 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.
- Mau015bko M, Wierzbicka M, Zdrojkowski u0141, Jasiu0144ski T, Pawliu0144ski B, Domino M. Characteristics of the Donkey's Dorsal Profile in Relation to Its Functional Body Condition Assessment.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 29;11(11).
- Valle E, Raspa F, Giribaldi M, Barbero R, Bergagna S, Antoniazzi S, Mc Lean AK, Minero M, Cavallarin L. A functional approach to the body condition assessment of lactating donkeys as a tool for welfare evaluation.. PeerJ 2017;5:e3001.
- Schru00f6der UJ, Staufenbiel R. Invited review: Methods to determine body fat reserves in the dairy cow with special regard to ultrasonographic measurement of backfat thickness.. J Dairy Sci 2006 Jan;89(1):1-14.
- Fiore E, Fabbri G, Gallo L, Morgante M, Muraro M, Boso M, Gianesella M. Application of texture analysis of b-mode ultrasound images for the quantification and prediction of intramuscular fat in living beef cattle: A methodological study.. Res Vet Sci 2020 Aug;131:254-258.
- 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.
- Silva SR, Payan-Carreira R, Quaresma M, Guedes CM, Santos AS. Relationships between body condition score and ultrasound skin-associated subcutaneous fat depth in equids.. Acta Vet Scand 2016 Oct 20;58(Suppl 1):62.
- Domino M, Romaszewski M, Jasiu0144ski T, Mau015bko M. Comparison of the Surface Thermal Patterns of Horses and Donkeys in Infrared Thermography Images.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 24;10(12).
- National Research Council Donkey and Other Equids . Nutrient Requirements of Horses. National Academies Press; Washington, DC, USA: 2007. pp. 268u2013279.
- Carluccio A, Gloria A, Veronesi MC, De Amicis I, Noto F, Contri A. Factors affecting pregnancy length and phases of parturition in Martina Franca jennies.. Theriogenology 2015 Sep 1;84(4):650-5.
- Pearson R.A., Ouassat M. Guide to Body Condition Scoring and Live Weight Estimation of Donkeys. Thomson Colour Printers Ltd.; Glasgow, UK: 2000. p. 21.
- Costa L.R.R., Paradis M.R. Manual of Clinical Procedures in the Horse. 1st ed. John Wiley & Sons; Hoboken, NJ, USA: 2017. pp. 416u2013426.
- Domecq JJ, Skidmore AL, Lloyd JW, Kaneene JB. Validation of body condition scores with ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous fat of dairy cows.. J Dairy Sci 1995 Oct;78(10):2308-13.
- Kidd J.A., Lu K.G., Frazer M.L. Atlas of Equine Ultrasonography. John Wiley & Sons; Hoboken, NJ, USA: 2014.
- Salari F, Roncoroni C, Altomonte I, Boselli C, Brajon G, Martini M. Effects of the Physiological Status and Diet on Blood Metabolic Parameters in Amiata Dairy Donkeys.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 17;11(11).
- Drackley JK, Wallace RL, Graugnard D, Vasquez J, Richards BF, Loor JJ. Visceral adipose tissue mass in nonlactating dairy cows fed diets differing in energy density(1).. J Dairy Sci 2014;97(6):3420-30.
- Cellini M., Hussein H.A., Elsayed H.K., Sayed A.S. The association between metabolic profile indices, clinical parameters, and ultrasound measurement of backfat thickness during the periparturient period of dairy cows. Comp. Clin. Pathol. 2019;28:711u2013723. doi: 10.1007/s00580-019-02923-0.
- Cosentino C, Paolino R, Freschi P, Calluso AM. Short communication: jenny milk production and qualitative characteristics.. J Dairy Sci 2012 Jun;95(6):2910-5.
- Gentry L.R., Thompson D., Gentry G.T., Jr., Del Vecchio R.P., Davis K.A., Del Vecchio P.M. The relationship between body condition score and ultrasonic fatmeasurements in mares of high versus low body condition. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2004;24:198u2013203. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2004.04.009.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Secure Payments
Satisfaction Guarantee
We offer a 60-day guarantee to ensure you are completely satisfied.
Fast & Free Shipping
We provide fast and free shipping on all orders over $40.