Beginners Guide to Body Condition Scoring A Tool

Beginner’s Guide to Body Condition Scoring A Tool for Dairy Herd Management Web Presentation Updated July, 2004

n n Using body condition scoring to fine tune herd nutrition and health management has become a widely accepted practice. This presentation is designed to Introduce you to body condition scoring n Provide examples of cows scored 1 to 5 n

Evaluating Body Condition vs. Type n n Type evaluation (classification, judging) compares animals to the “ideal” conformation Body condition scoring considers the relative fatness or thinness of animals

Goals of Body Condition Scoring n n n Early detection of potential health problems Identify areas for improved feeding management Improve herd health, production, reproduction, profitability

Body Condition Scoring n n Visual and tactile evaluation of body fat reserves Indication of energy balance Scale of 1 to 5, increments of 0. 25 Body Condition Score = BCS 1 = emaciated cow (too thin) n BCS 3 = average body condition n BCS 5 = excessively fat cow n

Areas to Evaluate n Rump / Pelvic Area Tailhead n Hooks n Pins n Thurl n n Loin Short ribs n Spine n

Side View Rear View Short Ribs Hooks Pins Sacral Ligament Thurl Hooks Tailhead Ligament Thurl Pins

(Spinous Process) (Short Ribs) If an animal is grossly fat, the bone structure cannot be seen or felt through the fat. In thin animals, the bone structures are very prominent.

Step-by-Step Process n n See “Learn to Score Body Condition” presentation on the dairy nutrition website Not a perfect science n Scores should be similar ( 0. 25) When measured on one animal or n When measured by different people n n Separates average condition from extremes

Extremely Fat Extremely Thin

Examples of Scores Presented to help you see the major differences – for a more detailed system of scoring, see “Learn to Score Body Condition”

BCS 1: Severely Under-conditioned n Side view Bones of tailhead easy to see n Prominent backbone n Tips of short ribs are clearly visible n Hooks, thurl, and pins very prominent n Photo Not Available

BCS 1 Rear view n n Photo Not Available n n All boney prominences easily visible Hooks, pins, spine, & ribs very sharp Deep cavities around tailhead Thin legs, poor muscle condition

BCS 2: Severe Negative Energy Balance n n Tailhead prominent, limited skin cover Prominent backbone Limited skin cover on short ribs. From tip to spine, short ribs are visible ¾ of the distance Angular hooks and pins with prominent thurl

BCS 2 n n Hooks, pins, & thurl prominent Tailhead area somewhat hollow, but has modest covering of flesh

BCS 2. 75: Slightly Thin n n Visible backbone Tip of short ribs smooth, but visible Hooks angular, but pins padded by fat V-angle formed between hooks, thurl, and pins

BCS 2. 75 n n Hooks angular, but pins more rounded or padded with fat Hollow below tailhead compared to a BCS 3

BCS 3: Good Condition n n More flesh covering backbone Tip of short ribs smooth Hooks and pins rounded and smooth V-angle formed between hooks, thurl, and pins

BCS 3 n n Hooks and pins rounded No deep depressions or fat deposits around tailhead

BCS 3. 25: Slightly Fleshy n n More flesh covering backbone Tip of short ribs very smooth Hooks and pins more rounded and smooth U-angle formed between hooks, thurl, and pins

BCS 3. 25 n n Rounded hooks & pins Sacral and tailhead ligaments visible

BCS 4: Over-conditioned n n Backbone barely visible Short ribs very smooth, tips barely visible Hooks and pins very smooth, but visible Flat between hooks and pins

BCS 4 n n n Hooks & pins rounded, but visible Rump and thurl flat Sacral and tailhead ligaments not visible

BCS 5: Severely Over-conditioned n n Backbone not visible Short ribs flat, bones not visible Hooks and pins not visible Flat over rump and tailhead

BCS 5 n n n All boney prominences rounded and covered in fat Tailhead buried in fat Fat deposits readily seen on rump and legs

Summary n The body condition scoring scale Under-conditioned cows = BCS 1 n Over-conditioned cows = BCS 5 n n Determining a cow's BCS Look at pelvic area and loin n Fat deposits become evident cow is over conditioned n Bone structures become prominent cow is thin n