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Beginner’s Guide to Body Condition
Scoring
A Tool for Dairy Herd ManagementWeb Presentation
Updated July, 2004
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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
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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
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Goals of Body Condition Scoring
Early detection of potential health problems
Identify areas for improved feeding management
Improve herd health, production, reproduction, profitability
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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
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Areas to Evaluate Rump / Pelvic Area
Tailhead Hooks Pins Thurl
Loin Short ribs Spine
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Side View
Pins
Thurl
Hooks
Rear View
Pins
Thurl
Hooks
Short Ribs
Tailhead Ligament
Sacral Ligament
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(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.
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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
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Extremely Fat Extremely Thin
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Examples of Scores
Presented to help you see the major differences –
for a more detailed system of scoring, see “Learn to Score Body Condition”
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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
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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
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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
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Hooks, pins, & thurl prominent
Tailhead area somewhat hollow, but has modest covering of flesh
BCS 2
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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
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Hooks angular, but pins more rounded or padded with fat
Hollow below tailhead compared to a BCS 3
BCS 2.75
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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
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Hooks and pins rounded
No deep depressions or fat deposits around tailhead
BCS 3
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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
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Rounded hooks & pins
Sacral and tailhead ligaments visible
BCS 3.25
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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
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Hooks & pins rounded, but visible
Rump and thurl flat Sacral and tailhead
ligaments not visible
BCS 4
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BCS 5: Severely Over-conditioned
Backbone not visible Short ribs flat, bones not visible Hooks and pins not visible Flat over rump and tailhead
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All boney prominences rounded and covered in fat
Tailhead buried in fat
Fat deposits readily seen on rump and legs
BCS 5
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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