TY - JOUR AU - Stephenson, Thomas R. AU - Hundertmark, Kris J. AU - Schwartz, Charles C. AU - Van Ballenberghe, Victor PY - 1993/01/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - ULTRASONIC FAT MEASUREMENT OF CAPTIVE YEARLING BULL MOOSE JF - Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose JA - Alces VL - 29 IS - SE - Articles DO - UR - https://www.alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/991 SP - 115-123 AB - <p>The ability to measure fat thickness in live moose offers potential as an index of population condition. Consequently, we evaluated the feasibility of using portable real-time ultrasound to measure body fat in five captive yearling bull moose (<em>Alces alces</em>). The rump region of the bulls was scanned, twice weekly for 3 weeks during the rut, using a 5 MHz transducer; an additional set of measurements was obtained in April 1993. Ultrasonic fat thickness was measured at multiple sites along a line between the spine, at its closest point to the tuber coxae (hip bone), and the uber ischii (pin bone), as well as along a second line perpendicular to the first line at its midpoint. The range of maximum subcutaneous fat thickness at the beginning of the study was 0.3 - 2.4 cm. Fat thickness declined significantly during the rut. The range of fat loss during the rut at the intersection of the 2 measurement lines was 0.2 - 1.2 cm. This <em>in vivo</em> technique exhibits potential to monitor body condition.</p> ER -