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8/3/2019 Bcs for Eica

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION & HEALTH

BODY CONDITION SCORING

IN DAIRY CATTLE

Prepared by : English Group (A)

- Mr. Donny Yawah (Malaysia)

- Ms. Dewi Sholihah (Indonesia)


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WHAT IS BCS

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WHAT

ISBCS?

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is a method of evaluating

fatness or thinness of dairy cows.

Condition scoring by visual assessment of the amount ofmuscle & fat

covering the bones of the pelvic & loin area of the cows.

Based on 5 points scale with increment of 0.25 (some country use 8

points scale).

Scoring enables us to compare the condition of a cows with the

recommended targets at certain stage.

There are 6 areas on the body regions of cows that need to beassessed.

The body condition should be regularly monitored by body condition

scoring (BCS) method.

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THE GOALS OF BCS

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Goals of Body Condition Scoring

Early detection of potential health problems;

Hence, reducing the incidence of metabolic and other

peripartum diseases.

Identify areas for improved feeding management

To maximize milk production and reproductive efficiency

Monitoring the energy status of dairy cows.

It is an indicator of the amount energy reserved and changeswith different stage of lactation.

Improve herd health, production, reproduction, profitability

THEIMPORTAN

TOFBCS


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POINTS OF BODY TO

EVALUATE

6


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Areas to Evaluate

Rump / Pelvic Area

Tailhead

Hooks

Pins

Thurl

Loin

Short ribs

Spine

AREAT

OEVALUATE


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AREAT

OEVALUATE

8

Thurl

Hooks

Short Ribs & Loin

Tailhead Ligament

Sacral Ligament

Pins

Rear View


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AREAT

OEVALUATE

9

ThurlHooks

Short Ribs & LoinTailhead LigamentSacral Ligament

Pins

Side View


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5 POINTS SCALE

BODY CONDITIONSCORING

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THEIMPORTAN

TOFBCS

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5 points scale BCS

BODY SCORE

1 Very poor

2 Poor

3

Good 4 Fat

5 Very fat


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5POINTSSCALE

BCS

12

BCS = 1

(Very poor)

5 points scale BCS

Bones of pelvic (Hooks & Pins)

and short ribs sharp and easily felt

No fatty tissue in pelvic or loin area.

Deep depression in loin

Deep cavity around tail head.


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Shallow cavity around tail head with

some fatty tissue lining it and covering

the pin bones

5 points scale BCS

End of short ribs feel rounded

and upper surfaces can be felt with

slight pressure

BCS = 2

(Poor)

Depression visible in loin area

Bones of pelvic easily felt

5POINTSSCALE

BCS


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No cavity around tail head and fatty

5 points scale BCS

BCS = 3

(Good)

Bones of pelvic easily felt with slight

pressure

Thick layer of tissue covering top of

short ribs which still be felt with pressure

Slight depression visible in loin area

5POINTSSCALE

BCS


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Fold of fatty tissue are seen around tail

5 points scale BCS

5POINTSSCALE

BCS

BCS = 4(Fat)

Pelvic bone can be felt with firm pressure Patches of fat covering pin bones

No depression in loin area

Short ribs can no longer be felt

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Tail head is buried in thick layer of fatty tissue

5 points scale BCS

5POINTSSCALE

BCS

Pelvic bone can not be felt even with firm

pressure

Short ribs covered with thick layer of fatty

tissue

No depression in loin area

BCS = 5(extremely fat)

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SCORING STEPS

of BCS

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H

P

HP

H

P

HP

STEPS

INBCS

If the angle between Hooks (H) & Pins (P) is angular,V-Angle; this cow will fall into group BCS 3

If the angle is rounded, U-Angle,

the cow will fall into group BCS > 3

Step 1:Divide into 2 groups by

looking at angle

between Hooks (H)

& Pins (P)

Group 1 = BCS 3

Group 2 = BCS > 3


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The first decision is very important & can be a

little difficult, here are a few more examples.

Remember to look at the angle between

Hooks & Pins!

PracticeSTEPS

INBCS

Hooks

Pins


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STEPS

INBCS(PRACTICE

1)

Looked at each cow and try to guess the right score (1).


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STEPS

INBCS(PRACTICE

2)

Looked at each cow and try to guess the right score (2).


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STEPS

INBCS

Step 2:Determine the score for cows

which BCS 3 (Group 1)

Rounded Hooks

Angular Hooks Pins visibly padded

Angular Pin Palpable fat padon pins

Short ribs visible butstill padded

Short ribs visible andless padded

BCS = 3.0

BCS = 2.75

BCS = 2.0

BCS = 2.25

If the angle is angular, V-Angle;

this cow will fall into group BCS 3

Now let's refine the score of 3 byevaluation of the Pads of Hooks, Pinsand Short Ribs


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STEPS

INBCS

Step 3:Determine the score for cows

which BCS > 3 (group 2)

Sacral and tailhead

ligament visible

BCS = 3.25

BCS = 3.50

Tailhead ligament

partly covered in fat

BCS = 4.0

Neither ligament easily

seen

Neither ligament visible

BCS = 3.75

Now let's refine the score of "over 3," byevaluation of the TAILHEAD and SACRALLIGAMENTS.

The tailhead ligament is found betweenthe tailhead and the pins.

The sacral ligament is found between thespine and the hooks.

The visibility of these ligaments will helpus to score cows with more condition.

If the angle is rounded, U-Angle,

the cow will fall into group BCS > 3


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Hooks, pins, & thurl

prominent

Tailhead area

somewhat hollow,

but has modestcovering of flesh

BCS 2.0

Angular angle

between Hooks &

pins

Rounded Hooks &

pins

BCS 3.0

STEPS

INBCS(PRACTICE

3)


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The hooks & pins are

angular, prominent &

not well padded

Tail head not padded

Sacral and tail Ligamentsare visible

BCS < 2.0

Hooks & pins rounded,and well padded

Rump and thurl flat Sacral and tailhead

ligaments not visible

BCS 4.0

STEPS

INBCS(PRACTICE

4)


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DISCUSSION

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The BCS in relation to Milk Production, Dry Matter

Intake, Body Fat & Fetal Development

DISCUS

SION

27Source: Elanco.com

Drying offEarly lactation Late lactationMid lactation


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Target Body Condition Score

Cows at calving

Recommended body score is 3.25 to 3.75.

This to allow the cow to calve with adequate but not excessive body fat reserves.

If body score is < 3.25

Cows calving too thin may not peak as well as they potentially can. Body condition

score below 3 is an indication that the cow has not received enough energy

supply during late lactation and / or dry period.

If body score is > 3.75

Can cause rapid and / or excessive body weight losses which can increase theincidence of metabolic disorders (e.g. ketosis, milk fever) after calving. Body

condition score above 4 is an indication that energy intake was high during late

lactation and / or dry period.

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DISCUS

SION


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Early-lactation

Recommended BCS in early-lactation is 2.5 to 3.0

Following parturition, cows will loose body condition (weight) because the cows

dry matter intake does not match energy requirements for milk production. Cows

may loose up to 1 kg per day during the first 60-90 days of lactation.

Body condition score of high producing cows may drop to 2.5 during early lactation

due to mobilization of body fat reserves. This might not be a problem. However a

BCS of > 2.0 for cows that are not high producers is an indication of low energy

intake.

If cows have good BCS with low production, check for inadequate intakes of

protein, minerals and water.

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DISCUS

SION



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Mid-Lactation

Recommeneded score in mid-lactation is 2.7 - 3.0. Score below 2.75 indicates

that cows are not receiving adequate energy. Check early lactation rations

because problems usually begin there. For score above 3.0 reduce energy intake

to avoid over conditioning.

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DISCUS

SION



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Late-lactation

Recommened score in late-lactation is 3.0 3.75.

The objectives are to prepare the cow for next lactation and to avoid

overconditioning. This is the most important time to prepare for how the cow will

score at drying-off.

It is the easiest and least risky to adjust the BCS during this period. This is because

the cow uses her feed more efficiently while milking than when dry. Thus it is less

expensive to put weight into a thin cow.

Body condition score below 3.25 at dry-off means cows are not receiving adequate

energy. Check to make sure that cows in early- and mid-lactation are receiving enough

energy.

If the BCS is above 3.75 at dry-off, reduce energy intake during late lactation.

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DISCUS

SION



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Dry period

Recommended score in the dry period is 3.25 to 3.75.

The BCS of the cow should not change considerably during this period. This is

because a 2-month dry period is not long enough to considerably change BCS.

Nutritional objective is to feed low energy diet that provides adequate but not

excessive amount of protein, minerals and vitamins.

If BCS is below 3.25, increase energy content of late lactation rations as body

reserves has to be replaced at that time.

If BCS is above 3.75, reduce energy intake of the dairy cow while maintainingadequate protein intake. Also reduce energy density of the late lactation cows as

the problem may have started there.

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DISCUS

SION



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Heifers

Recommended body condition score for heifers is 2.5 to 3.5.

If heifers are allowed to become very thin (BCS < 2.5), they will not grow properly

and may have reproductive problems later on.

A BCS > 3.5 has been found to be associated with greater fat infiltration in the

mammary glands of heifers at puberty. Thus heifers will not produce to their full

genetic potential.

First lactation heifers should calve with a BCS between 3.5 and 4.0 as heifer mightencounter a negative energy balance plus support growth.

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DISCUS

SION


ID


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DEALB

ODYCON

DITION

S

CORES

Stage of Lactation Score

Drying off 3.25 - 3.75

Calving (older cows) 3.25 - 3.75

Calving (first lactation) 3.5 - 4.0

Early Lactation 2.5 - 3.0

Mid lactation 2.75 - 3.0 Late lactation 3.0 - 3.75

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Ranges of Ideal Body ConditionScores

S


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UMMA

RY Body condition scoring is an essential & useful

management tool for dairy producers to manage the

nutrition of their herd. In turn, this improvement in

nutritional status should improve milk production of

the cow as well as reproductive performance andhealth of the animals. Thus increase the profits of

the farmer

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Summary


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Thank You

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