Relationship between live body condition score and carcass fat measures in equine

Abstract

Relationships between live body condition score (BCS) and carcass fat depots have not been well established in equine. Our study was designed to quantify the relationship between BCS and fat depot measurements from equine carcasses. Live horses (n = 429) were evaluated immediately prior to immobilization at a commercial equine processor. Horses were independently assigned a BCS by a panel of three trained evaluators; BCS was evaluated by visual appraisal and manual palpation of the neck, withers, back, ribs, behind the shoulder, and tailhead. Median BCS frequencies were: 3.0 (n = 9), 4.0 (n = 43), 5.0 (n = 116), 6.0 (n = 86), 7.0 (n = 72), 8.0 (n = 76), and 9.0 (n = 27). Sex (stallion [n = 5], mare [n = 159], or gelding [n = 114]) and breed type (draft [n = 56], stock [n = 363], pony [n = 8], or mule [n =3]) were also denoted. Horses were processed for human consumption according to industry-accepted procedures under the supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. During the harvest process, all kidney–pelvic–heart (KPH) fat was trimmed from the carcass and weighed. After chilling, the marbling score was subjectively evaluated using beef grading standards. Carcass fat trim was weighed during the fabrication process. As BCS increased, hot carcass weight (HCW), absolute KPH weight, KPH expressed as a percentage of HCW, marbling score, neck fat depth, absolute weight of trimmed carcass fat, and trimmed carcass fat as a percentage of HCW increased (P < 0.01). A strong correlation (r = 0.74; P < 0.01) was detected between BCS and absolute KPH weight. Similarly, correlations between BCS and percentage of KPH (r = 0.65), neck fat depth (r = 0.60), absolute trimmed carcass fat (r = 0.58), trimmed carcass fat as a percentage of HCW (r = 0.54), marbling score (r = 0.54), and HCW (r = 0.52) were also detected (P < 0.01). These data indicate a strong relationship between subjective live BCS and objectively measured carcass fat depots in various equine breed types and sexes.