Abstract

During the whole production cycle it is important to monitor the energy balance and to quantify body reserve changes of the ewes. This can be done, both in experimental settings and in the field, by estimating the body condition score (BCS) of the ewes and its variations. However, if this tool is used to balance the diets it is necessary to know the relationship between BCS and body weight (BW), which varies depending on the mature size of the breed and of the population considered within each breed. The relationship between BW and BCS has been studied only for some sheep breeds and populations. For this reason, this research aimed to develop a prediction model of this relationship in ewes for any breed or population.

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