Beginner’s Guide to Body Condition

Scoring

A Tool for Dairy Herd ManagementWeb Presentation

Updated July, 2004

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 Provide examples of cows scored 1 to 5

Evaluating Body Condition vs. Type

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

Early detection of potential health problems

Identify areas for improved feeding management

Improve herd health, production, reproduction, profitability

Body Condition Scoring

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

BCS 1 = emaciated cow (too thin) BCS 3 = average body condition BCS 5 = excessively fat cow

Areas to Evaluate Rump / Pelvic Area

Tailhead Hooks Pins Thurl

Loin Short ribs Spine

Side View

Pins

Thurl

Hooks

Rear View

Pins

Thurl

Hooks

Short Ribs

Tailhead Ligament

Sacral Ligament

(Short Ribs)

(Spinous Process)

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

See “Learn to Score Body Condition” presentation on the dairy nutrition website

Not a perfect science Scores should be similar ( 0.25)

When measured on one animal or When measured by different people

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”

Side view Bones of tailhead easy to see Prominent backbone Tips of short ribs are clearly visible Hooks, thurl, and pins very prominent

BCS 1: Severely Under-conditioned

Photo Not Available

Photo Not Available

All boney prominences easily visible

Hooks, pins, spine, & ribs very sharp

Deep cavities around tailhead

Thin legs, poor muscle condition

BCS 1

Rear view

BCS 2: Severe Negative Energy Balance

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

Hooks, pins, & thurl prominent

Tailhead area somewhat hollow, but has modest covering of flesh

BCS 2

BCS 2.75: Slightly Thin

Visible backbone Tip of short ribs smooth, but visible Hooks angular, but pins padded by

fat V-angle formed between hooks, thurl,

and pins

Hooks angular, but pins more rounded or padded with fat

Hollow below tailhead compared to a BCS 3

BCS 2.75

BCS 3: Good Condition

More flesh covering backbone Tip of short ribs smooth Hooks and pins rounded and smooth V-angle formed between hooks, thurl,

and pins

Hooks and pins rounded

No deep depressions or fat deposits around tailhead

BCS 3

BCS 3.25: Slightly Fleshy

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

Rounded hooks & pins

Sacral and tailhead ligaments visible

BCS 3.25

BCS 4: Over-conditioned

Backbone barely visible Short ribs very smooth, tips barely

visible Hooks and pins very smooth, but

visible Flat between hooks and pins

Hooks & pins rounded, but visible

Rump and thurl flat Sacral and tailhead

ligaments not visible

BCS 4

BCS 5: Severely Over-conditioned

Backbone not visible Short ribs flat, bones not visible Hooks and pins not visible Flat over rump and tailhead

All boney prominences rounded and covered in fat

Tailhead buried in fat

Fat deposits readily seen on rump and legs

BCS 5

Summary

The body condition scoring scale Under-conditioned cows = BCS 1 Over-conditioned cows = BCS 5

Determining a cow's BCS Look at pelvic area and loin Fat deposits become evident cow is over

conditioned Bone structures become prominent cow

is thin