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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(11); doi: 10.3390/ani12111359

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.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-26 PubMed ID: 35681823PubMed Central: PMC9179614DOI: 10.3390/ani12111359Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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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). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111359

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 11

Researcher Affiliations

Nocera, Irene
  • 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.
Bonelli, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Turini, Luca
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Madrigali, Alessio
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Aliboni, Benedetta
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Sgorbini, Micaela
  • 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.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Shahrai NN, Yusop SM, Ali MM, Saim MHM, Aziz ARPA, Hashim MHM, Ueda S. Real-time ultrasound and RGB imaging integration for non-invasive prediction of ribeye area in Tropical Crossbred Brahman Cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Dec 24;58(1):15.
    doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04758-0pubmed: 41442016google scholar: lookup
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