Bone marrow fat analysis as a diagnostic tool to document ante-mortem starvation

•Starvation arising from neglect is a major animal welfare issue and a common form of animal cruelty.•Bone marrow fat is the last fat reserve mobilised for energy by calorie-deprived animals during a state of emaciation.•Bone marrow fat quantification could be used to provide an objective post-mortem diagnosis of starvation.•Veterinary laboratories should be aware of bone marrow fat analysis and develop competence in generating reliable results.