Asim Faraz¹*, Syeda Maryam Hussain², Annamaria Passantino³ and Michela Pugliese³

¹Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
²Department of Livestock Production and Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan
³ Department of Veterinary Sciences, Polo Universitario Annunziata - Messina, University of Messina, Italy

*Corresponding Author: Asim Faraz, Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan. E-mail: drasimfaraz@bzu.edu.pk

Received: November 16, 2021 Published: December 08, 2021

Abstract

Since 1950’s ultrasound has been used extensively for measurements in different parts of the body, but the early techniques were very labor-intensive and slow. In 1970, the technology has been improved by the introduction of scanogram and SVC scanner. Recently by using new generations of the portable equipment that are originally designed for medical purposes, the real-time ultrasonic scanning (RTUS) has offered the potential to produce accurate and quick measurements at lower cost. The applications were described in livestock industry of North America. The computed tomography was proposed as the standard method for quantifying abdominal adiposity since 1990. There has been substantial variability in the relative accuracy while measuring the back-fat thickness by ultrasound so require a well-trained examiner and specific equipment. Ultrasonography is a very simple and reliable technique for measuring visceral and subcutaneous fat. In addition to this, ultrasonography is a quick and non-invasive technique having very good reproducibility rates with intra-examination variation less than 1% and lower costs than computed tomography scans. It is very first time in Pakistan, the back-fat layer measurement was measured by ultrasonography in camel herd where slaughtering can’t be performed in breeding stock. This paper will be a useful addition in the field of camel science.

Keywords: Camel; Ultrasonography; Back Fat Layer; Desert; Pastoral

References

1. Faraz A., et al. “The camel-a short communication on classification and attributes”. Journal of Fisheries and Livestock Production 7 (2019): 289.
2. Raziq A., et al. “Camel - A potential dairy animal in difficult environments”. The Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences2 (2008): 263-267.
3. Faraz A., et al. “Socio-economic status and associated constraints of camel production in desert Thal Punjab, Pakistan”. Journal of Fisheries and Livestock Production 7 (2019): 288.
4. Faraz A., et al. “Role of camel in food security: a perspective aspect”. Journal of Fisheries and Livestock Production 7 (2019): 290.
5. Faraz A., et al. “Production potential of camel and its prospects in Pakistan”. Punjab University Journal of Zoology 28 (2013): 89-95.
6. Faraz A and Waheed A. “The Camel, LAMBERT Academic Publishers (2019).
7. Faraz A. “Portrayal of camel production in the desert ecosystem of Pakistan”. Journal of Zoological Research 2 (2020): 15-20.
8. Suzuki R., et al. “Abdominal wall fat index, estimated by ultrasonography, for assessment of the ratio of visceral fat to subcutaneous fat in the abdomen”. The American Journal of Medicine3 (1993): 309-314.
9. Tornaghi G., et al. “Anthropometric or ultrasonic measurements in assessment of visceral fat? A comparative study”. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders11 (1994): 771-775.
10. Armellini F., et al. “The contribution of sonography to the measurement of intra- abdominal fat”. Journal of Clinical Ultrasound7 (1997): 563-567.
11. McLaren DG., et al. “A study of operator effects on ultrasonic measures of fat depth and longissimus muscle area in cattle, sheep and pigs”. Journal of Animal Science 69 (1991): 54-66.
12. Merino-Ibarra E., et al. “Ultrasonography for the evaluation of visceral fat and the metabolic syndrome”. Metabolism 54 (2005): 1230-1250.
13. Brethour JR. “Modeling rate of increase in back fat thickness in feedlot steers”. Journal of Animal Science 66 (1988): 453.
14. Brethour JR. “The repeatability and accuracy of ultrasound in measuring backfat of cattle”. Journal of Animal Science 70 (1992): 1039-1044.
15. Robinson DL., et al. “Live animal measurement of carcass traits by ultrasound: assessment and accuracy of sonographers”. Journal of Animal Science 70 (1992): 1667-1676.
16. Elnahas A. “Ultrasonographical examination of one humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) liver with some hematological and biochemical aspects”. A thesis submitted to der Veterinarmedizinischen Fakultat, Leipzig, Germany (2008).
17. Fernandez C., et al. “Using ultrasound to determine fat thickness and longissimus dorsi area on Manchego lambs of different live weight”. Small Ruminant Research 27 (1988): 159-165.
18. Silva SR., et al. “In vivo estimation of sheep carcass composition using real-time ultrasound with two probes of 5 and 7.5 MHz and image analysis”. Journal of Animal Science 84 (2006): 3433-3439.
19. Wilson DE. “Application of ultrasound for genetic improvement”. Journal of Animal Science 70 (1992): 973-983.
20. Hopkins DL. “Predicting the weight of lean meat in lamb carcasses and suitability of this characteristic as a basis for valuing carcasses”. Meat Science2 (1994): 235-241.
21. , et al. “The prediction of saleable meat yield in lamb carcasses”. Canadian Journal of Animal Science Journal 76 (1996): 49-53.
22. Kirton AH and Johnson DL. “Interrelationships between GR and other lamb carcass fatness measurements”. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production5 (1979): 194-201.
23. Theriault M., et al. “Accuracy of real-time ultrasound measurements of total tissue, fat, and muscle depths at different measuring sites in lamb”. Journal of Animal Science 87 (2009): 1801-1813.
24. Faraz A., et al. Growth performance, body condition scoring, back fat layer measurement and economics of weaned camel calves fed diets with two protein levels. Proceeding’s 5th conference of the International Society of Camelid Research and Development (ISOCARD). “Recent advances in Camelid’s biology, health and production Laayoune Morocco”. (2018): 435-437.

Citation

Citation: Asim Faraz., et al. “Back Fat Layer Measurements by Ultrasonography in Camels - A Tool for Measuring the General Health Status". Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences 4.1 (2022): 34-37.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2022 Asim Faraz., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.