Abstract:

In this study the body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) of lactating cows was estimated by using conventional (CM) the digital image analysis methods (DIAM). BCS is an important factor to facilitate different practices of management in dairy cattle. A total of 204 Holstein cows live images were taken by remote shutter camera. Six body measurements such as heart girth (HG), wither height (WH), hip height (HH), body length (BL), front hip-width (FHW), and back hip-width (BHW) were used for the assessment of BW and BCS by CM and DIAM. The estimation of CBW using HG, FHW, and BL variables was effective (R2 = 0.75). However, all the body measurements were ineffective for body condition score by measurements (MBCS), (R2 = 0.06, conventional) and DBCS (R2 = 0.05, digital) estimation. The measurements of WH, HG, FHW, BHW, and BL were precise in DBW estimation (R2 = 0.77). No significant differences were found across the assessment methods (CM, DIAM) for body measurements. The intra-class reliability coefficient (ICC) of conventional and digital (MBW, DBW) measurements was “good” and “excellent” between conventional and digital estimations. This study indicates that DIAM is a reliable method for determining DBW and MBW, and can be interchanged effectively with CM.

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