@article{MAKHILLJAVA201312154210,
    title = {Performance Characteristics of Lactating Ankole and Ankole x Friesian Upgrades Under Open Grazing Systems in Nyagatare District, Rwanda},
    journal = {Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances},
    volume = {12},
    number = {15},
    pages = {1263-1265},
    year = {2013},
    issn = {1680-5593},
    doi = {javaa.2013.1263.1265},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1680-5593&doi=javaa.2013.1263.1265},
    author = {B.,B. and},
    keywords = {Ankole,Friesian crossbred,Body Condition Scores (BCS),Body Weight (BW),animal},
    abstract = {Feeding guides for animals are based on body weight. Advisory 
  service providers often depend on Heart Girth (HG) and Body Conditions Scores 
  (BCS) as proxy indicators of Live Body Weight (LBW) in mature cattle. But the 
  relationship is affected by a number of factors including breed, parity and 
  physiological status of the animal. There is a tacit gap in understanding the 
  relationships between BCS and LBW and their implications on animal management 
  decisions in developing countries including Rwanda. A study was therefore conducted 
  to determine the effect of genotype and parity on the relationship between BCS 
  and LBW in lactating Ankole cows and their crossbreds with Friesian genotypes. 
  Results revealed that BCS and LBW were more correlated (r≥0.90) in Ankole 
  than in crossbred cows (r≤0.40). The correlation improved the correlation 
  to similar levels in all breeds (r≥0.90) when parity was considered independently. 
  The cows gained 11-20 kg/Unit BCS because of low frame size. It was concluded 
  that BC Systems were pertinent management tools for developing countries and 
  the relationships between BCS and LBW could be an important selection tool for 
  dairy cattle improvement in Rwanda.}
    }