In vivo determination of subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue depots in German Holstein dairy cattle1

Abstract

Ultrasonography was used as a noninvasive method for quantitative estimation of the subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue depots in dairy cattle. The prediction model was created and validated with a total of 29 German Holstein cows; 6 were in early lactation (≤100 d in milk [DIM]) and 16 were in advanced lactation (101 to 292 DIM). Seven cows were nonpregnant and nonlactating and had been off milk for 350 to 450 d. Transcutaneous assessment of the thickness of subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissue was done at 16 sites on the body surface of all cows. After completion of the ultrasonographic measurements, the cows were slaughtered and the adipose depots were separately weighed. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis of the ultrasonographic variables was performed to estimate the slaughter weights of the different fat depots. Slaughter weights of the fat depots ranged from 5.0 to 43.0 kg for subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), from 13.7 to 98.8 kg for abdominal adipose tissue (AAT), from 3.4 to 30.3 kg for retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT), from 5.2 to 39.6 kg for omental adipose tissue (OMAT), and from 4.0 to 35.8 kg for mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT). The relationship between calculated amount of fat and slaughter weight of fat had coefficients of determination () and root mean square errors (kg) of 0.88 and 3.4, respectively, for SCAT; 0.94 and 6.1, respectively, for AAT; 0.94 and 1.7, respectively, for RPAT; 0.83 and 3.2, respectively, for OMAT; and 0.95 and 1.6, respectively, for MAT. The accuracy of ultrasonographic measurement of the different fat depots appears sufficient for the quantitative assessment of internal and subcutaneous fat stores in cows. This method is noninvasive and therefore allows safe and repeated monitoring of the amount of stored fat in different adipose tissue depots of German Holsteins cows.

Gain and loss of subcutaneous and abdominal fat depot mass from late pregnancy to 100 days in milk in German Holsteins

“…As shown in Table 1, the AAT depot as a whole was considerably bigger than the SCAT depot whereas the masses of the abdominal depots RPAT, OMAT and MAT did not differ amongst each other. Data of the present study are in accordance with previous studies of Raschka et al (2016) and von Soosten et al (2011) that determined quantity of adipose tissue depots by carcass analysis in periparturient dairy cattle. However, in the study by von Soosten et al 2011AAT is three to four times bigger than SCAT, whereas in the present study AAT was only two times bigger than SCAT.…”

“…Ultrasonography of subcutaneous and retroperitoneal fat layers and body size measurements were performed at −42 DIM and 3, 21 and 100 DIM. For detailed description of the procedure see Raschka et al (2016).…”

Effects of a Change from an Indoor-Based Total Mixed Ration to a Rotational Pasture System Combined with a Moderate Concentrate Feed Supply on the Health and Performance of Dairy Cows

“…Fat depot mass of 32 animals ( n = 16) was estimated quantitatively via ultrasonography according to Raschka et al [ 18 ] in week 0 and 11 during the trial. Briefly, a Mindray M5 Vet (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) ultrasound machine equipped with a 6 MHz linear probe (Mindray, 6LE5Vs) and a 3 MHz convex probe (Mindray, 3C5s) was used for transcutaneous ultrasonography.…”

Effects of a Dietary L-Carnitine Supplementation on Performance, Energy Metabolism and Recovery from Calving in Dairy Cows

“…, 24, 48 and 72 h pp, day 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 100 and 110 pp. Furthermore, ultrasonic measurements according to Raschka et al [15] were performed on day 42 ap, 72 h pp, day 42 pp and day 100 pp to estimate masses of adipose tissues (subcutaneous (SAT), retroperitoneal (RAT), omental (OAT), mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT)) by using a Mindray M5 Vet (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) diagnostic ultrasound system with a linear (6 MHz, Mindray 6LE5Vs) and a convex probe (3 MHz, Mindray 3C5s).…”

“…The mass of SAT, RAT, OAT and MAT was calculated according to Raschka et al [15] in consideration of different anatomic locations for ultra-sonographic measurements: twelfth rib at the level of the greater trochanter (R12), centre of paralumbar fossa from skin to peritoneum (AW3c), intertransverse space cranial to lumbar, intertransverse space where caudal pole of kidney is visible from skin to kidney margin away from transducer (KD3b), back fat thickness (BFT), centre of paralumbar fossa from skin to muscle margin away from transducer (AW3b), point of interception of a vertical line through the last lumbar vertebra and a horizontal line through the greater trochanter from skin to muscle margin away from transducer (AW1b), intertransverse space cranial to lumbar intertransverse space where caudal pole of kidney is visible from skin to peritoneum (KD2c). The sum of the masses of OAT, MAT and RAT results in the abdominal adipose tissue mass (AAT).…”