Aiming to improve the monitoring of the body condition of small milk producers' herds, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - Embrapa Rondônia developed Vetscore, a tool made up of two articulated rulers that form 180º angles. The goal of the technology is to make it possible to measure the animals' daily weight gains and losses in an easy, safe and inexpensive way.
“The technology mainly benefits small milk producers, who generally have fewer resources to invest in procedures such as imaging-based assessment to measure the body condition of the herd,” stresses Luiz Pfeifer of Embrapa Rondônia.
In dairy cattle farming, females show changes in body condition score around calving and postpartum; the device is therefore an important aid for the productive management of these animals, directly affecting their milk production capacity.
To use the instrument, simply position the Vetscore on the animal's rump, follow the usage instructions and close it slowly. The animal's body condition will be indicated by different colors: for an adequate body condition score, the device will show a green light; if it is below adequate, it will show a red light; and if the animal is overweight, the tool will show a yellow light.
Pfeiter also highlights, “Based on the results obtained, the producer can take the necessary measures to quickly correct any nutritional deficiencies in the herd and obtain greater productivity gains.”
The Vetscore is a functional and viable technology to help the day-to-day work of small milk producers, enabling greater economic returns for their production and, consequently, for the production chain of the entire sector.
See the full article at the link: Revista Globo Rural
Reviewed by Cristina Toyoko HashimotoPublished by Pedro Henrique Santos Bisi
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