beginners guide to body condition scoring a tool for dairy herd management web presentation updated...
TRANSCRIPT
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