Body Condition Score and its Relation to Body Weight and Measurements of Local Goats of Andhra Pradesh under Field Conditions

Abstract

The technique of Body Condition Score (BCS) is a means of subjectively assessing the degree of fatness or condition of the live animal. It is a simple, non-invasive, time saving and effective management tool to rank goats according to their body reserves by touch and sight. To assess the relationships among body condition score (BCS), body weight and measurements of goats under field conditions, a study was conducted  during the year 2019 on local goat flocks of farmers in Gundlasamudram and Marripudi villages of Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh,  India. A total of 100 does (2 to 4 years old) were assigned the BCS and the mean BCS of the test flock was 2.88±0.05. A total of 37 does were in the age group of 2 years with a mean BCS of 2.82±0.77, 52 does were in the age group of 3 years with a mean BCS of 2.96±0.75 and 11 does were in the age group of 4 years with a mean BCS of 2.75±0.16. Pin–shoulder length, height at withers, chest girth, abdominal girth, thigh circumference and body weight were significantly (p<0.01) positively correlated with each other. BCS was significantly (p<0.01) and positively correlated with all physical measurements studied. The mean BCS was significantly (p<0.01) higher for the does of age group of 3 years compared to does of age group of 2 and 4 years. The live weight of does increased by 2.66–2.80 kg for each unit increase in BCS.  The present study suggested that BCS can be an effective indicator of degree of fitness of does.