@article {3672,
	title = {Associations of body condition score and change in body condition score with lamb production in New Zealand Romney ewes},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {79},
	year = {2019},
	month = {07/2019},
	pages = {91-94},
	address = {Palmerston North},
	abstract = {Body condition score (BCS) is an on-farm subjective measurement used to inform feed management decisions in sheep. This study determined the associations of BCS and changes in BCS on production. Ewe BCS was recorded four times annually in a flock of 2534 Romney ewes aged one-five, first bred at eight-months of age. Production was measured as the number of fetuses scanned (NLS), number of lambs weaned (NLW), average weight of lambs weaned (WWT) and total weight of lamb weaned (TLW). Ewe BCS was greatest at lambing and lowest at weaning. At pregnancy scanning (at an average of 75 days of pregnancy),  two weeks prior to lambing, and at weaning, BCS >=4.5 was associated with the lowest NLS and NLW, but the greatest WWT. Ewes with a BCS <=2.5 at weaning were associated with the greatest TLW, suggesting these ewes had utilised their stored body fat to achieve high milk yields. Ewes that decreased BCS between lambing and weaning produced greater (P<0.05) TLW compared with ewes which maintained or gained BCS indicating their body reserves were acting as a buffer for milk production. The results of the current study showed that there was an effect of BCS on NLS, NLW, WWT and TLW. The change in BCS from scanning to weaning is an important determinate of NLW, WWT and TLW. A further study with more focus on the change in BCS is, therefore, warranted.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Tait IM and Kenyon PR and Garrick DJ and Lopez-villalobos N and Pleasants AB and Hickson RE}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {Genetic and phenotypic correlations between production traits and adult body condition scores in New Zealand merino ewes},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {78},
	year = {2018},
	month = {07/2018},
	pages = {71-75},
	address = {Lincoln},
	abstract = {Genetic and phenotypic correlations between adult body condition scores (BCS) throughout the production cycle and eye muscle
depth, fat depth, two-year-old greasy fleece weight, fibre diameter, staple length and staple strength were estimated from 2,007
pedigree-recorded merino ewes born between 2013 and 2015. The heritability estimates of BCS at pre-mating, mid-pregnancy,
pre-lambing and weaning were 0.66, 0.39, 0.46 and 0.32 respectively. The heritability estimates for yearling greasy fleece weight,
fibre diameter and staple length were 0.65, 0.86 and 0.73 respectively, and all these traits were positively genetically correlated
with BCS. The genetic correlations among the four BCS measurements ranged from 0.39-0.83, while the phenotypic correlations
ranged from 0.22-0.45. Genetic correlations between BCS and fat depth ranged from 0.67 to 0.83. Given the high heritability of
BCS and high genetic correlations between BCS measurements, there is clear scope for selection to alter BCS. Mating appears to
be the best time to record BCS for genetic selection, as it had the greatest heritability estimate and the greatest genetic correlations
with ultrasound measurements of fat depth and eye-muscle depth and all wool traits except fibre diameter coefficient of variation
and greasy fleece weight.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Tait IM and PR Kenyon and Garrick DJ and Pleasants AB and Hickson RE}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {Effect of cow body condition score on inter-calving interval, pregnancy diagnosis, weaning rate and calf weaning weight in beef cattle},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {77},
	year = {2017},
	month = {06/2017},
	pages = {23-28},
	address = {Rotorua},
	abstract = {The aim of this study was to describe the effect of cow body condition score (BCS) on pregnancy rate, inter-calving interval, wean-ing rate and birth and weaning weights of calves. Measurements of BCS in a herd of mixed age (2-10 years), predominantly Angus, beef cows were recorded annually four times between November 2012 and March 2015, at joining/rebreeding (November), wean-ing/pregnancy diagnosis (PD, March), winter (June) and calving (August). Year influenced BCS (P<0.05) and BCS was greatest at weaning 2014. Two-year-old cows had greater BCS (P<0.05) than three-year-old and the mixed age cows. Pregnancy rate was no different (P>0.05) between BCS at calving, joining and PD. Cows that increased BCS from joining to PD had lower pregnancy rate than cows that maintained or decreased BCS during this period, although it is unclear whether this association reflects an influence of BCS on pregnancy rate, or whether the BCS change was a result of differing pregnancy status. Greater BCS at joining was associated with lower calf birth weights. Body condition score at each event was not associated with inter-calving interval or calf weaning weight. Further research is still required to determine the optimum BCS at each stage of the production cycle.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Tait IM and Morris ST and Kenyon PR and Garrick DJ and Pleasants AB and Hickson RE}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {Relationships among skin thickness, fat depth and eye muscle depth in sires and their progeny, and the breeding value for survival of their progeny},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {75},
	year = {2015},
	month = {07/2015},
	pages = {243-246},
	address = {Dunedin},
	abstract = { Lamb survival to weaning is an important determinant of farmer income and an animal welfare issue. The aim of this study
was to determine whether skin thickness, fat depth and eye muscle depth (EMD) of the sires were related to skin thickness, fat
depth, EMD and survival estimated breeding value (eBV) of their progeny. Data from a total of 19,436 lambs born between
2010 and 2013 inclusive were obtained from four farmers who comprise the Terminal Romneys for Increased Genetic Gain
(TRIGG) group. Records included weaning weight, flock, sex, birth rank, date of birth, dam identity, sire identity and live weight
at ultrasound measurement; skin thickness, fat depth and EMD measured using ultrasound at eight-months of age; and the survival
eBV. Heritabilities for weaning weight, skin thickness, fat depth and EMD were 0.60{\textpm}0.08, 0.21{\textpm}0.07, 0.25{\textpm}0.08 and 0.61{\textpm}0.23
respectively. Skin thickness and EMD of the sire were positively correlated with progeny survival eBV while sire fat depth was
negatively correlated with lamb survival eBV. Skin thickness, EMD and fat depth showed promise as indirect selection criteria for
improved lamb survival. Additional data are required to confirm this.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Tait IM and Hickson RE and Kenyon PR and Blair HT}
}
