African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (24), pp. 2727-2734, 17 December 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Review

Assessing the nutritional status of beef cattle: current practices and future prospects

T. Ndlovu¹, M. Chimonyo ²*, A. I. Okoh¹, V. Muchenje², K. Dzama³, J.G. Raats²

¹Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

²Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa

³Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mchimonyo@ufh.ac.za. Tel: +27 40 602 2101, Fax: +27 40 653 1730.

Abbreviations: UFH, University of Fort Hare; NEFA, Non-esterified fatty acids;

VLDL, very low density lipoproteins; BHB, β–hydroxybutyrate; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; ERDP, effective rumen degradable protein; PCV, packed cell volume; AST, Aspartate aminotransferases; CK, creatinine kinase; ALT, Alanine transferase.

Accepted 26 October, 2007

Accurate determination of nutritional and health status of animals is invaluable in modern animal agriculture. Body weights and body condition scoring are the commonly used methods of assessing nutritional status of animals. This paper discusses drawbacks these methods have and highlights the benefits for using blood metabolites in assessing nutritional status of beef cattle. Blood metabolite levels indicate the extent of metabolism of energy, proteins and other nutrients in animals. Glucose, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids, protein, urea, creatinine, albumin, globulin, minerals, liver enzymes and haematology can be used objectively, reliably and routinely to assess the nutritional status of cattle. In Southern Africa, the use of these metabolites is rare due to lack of equipment for blood analysis and the high cost of analyzing the blood parameters. However, use of high value Nguni cattle in Southern Africa requires the use of blood parameters to accurately assess their nutritional status. Several factors, such as physiological status of an animal, breed, nutrition, season and age affect levels of blood metabolites. Combining body weights, body condition scores and blood metabolites increase accuracy of assessing the nutritional state and welfare of beef cattle.

Key words: Body condition scoring, blood metabolites, nutritional status, cattle.