A note on the estimationin vivoof body fat in cows using deuterium oxide or adipose-cell size

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Abstract
Two methods of estimating body fatin vivoin cattle, namely measurement of body water by dilution of deuterium oxide and subcutaneous adipose-cell size, were studied in mature cows and compared with a classical method based on dissection of a sample joint.Total body fat, measured after complete dissection of 12 dry cows, varied between 64 and 185g/kg body weight. Rib fat and adipose-cell diameter were related positively, while body water was related negatively to total body fat. The equations for prediction of total body fat were sufficiently accurate (s.d. = 10·1 to 11·5 g total body fat per kg body weight) to warrant further examination, and adipose-cell diameter was as accurate as body water.