Assessment of thermal imaging to objectively body condition score mature horses and multiparous gestating beef cows.

ABSTRACT: This study explored whether thermal imaging could provide an objective means of body condition scoring (BCS) horses and multiparous, gestating beef cows. This study consisted of two parts: one part assessed BCS in horses of the Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred breed types while the other evaluated BCS of gestating beef cows. Ground truth BCS were assigned by five to eight trained scorers for each animal. Thermal images were also collected from one or both sides of the body and analyzed for surface temperature. Surface temperature and BCS were evaluated with the whole body, and for five (cows) or seven (horses) specific body regions. Covariates were monitored, including breed, ambient temperature, cloud coverage (%), housing conditions, blanketing status, individual scorer, and scorer's locati

SUBMITTER: Webster AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12614166 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature