Development of a standardized body condition score for cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Citation

Dierenfeld E, Fuller L, Meeks K. 2007. Development of a standardized body condition score for cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). In Ward A, Hunt A, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Seventh Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Knoxville, TN.

Abstract

Standardized body condition indices (BCI) or scores (BCS) provide practical management tools for assessment of diet utilization and general quantification of fat stores that an animal carries. They have been widely developed and applied with livestock, domestic cats and dogs, and more recently, to various wildlife species, primarily hoofstock. Comparisons between BCS developed for free-ranging versus captive wildlife species have been informative in optimizing dietary management of some species. Typically, BCS is quantified on a scale of 1 to 5, or 1 to 9, with or without intermediate gradations, and accompanying physical descriptors.

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