How to measure body condition score?

Body condition scoring is a simple process. However, it is important to calibrate the eye by first condition scoring cows "hands-on" at the dairy. Then you are ready to BCS in the paddock:




Line up 15 cows with a range of BCS

🔸Put your hands on the important body parts

🔸Feel the amount of fat cover over the various body points and the difference between the cows. Note that gut fill can give visual impression of condition over the ribs; it is, therefore, important to feel the amount of fat cover.

🔸Average the different areas to come up with the BCS for that cow.What to look at when you condition score cows

🔸Backbone - Is it flat or is there a ridge? Can you see or easily feel notches?

🔸Long ribs - Can you see or easily feel the ribs? If visible how many can you see?

🔸Short ribs - Can you see the short ribs? What do they feel like? Are the rib ends sharp or rounded?

🔸Hip bones - Are the hip bones rounded or angular?

🔸Rump - Is the area between the pins and hip bones, flat, sunken or hollow?

🔸Pin bones - Are they pointed, "tap" like or rounded?

🔸Tailhead - Is there a hollow between the tail head and pin bones? Is it a deep V or shallow U shape?

🔸Thigh - Is the area indented, flat or rounded? Is the muscle structure defined.








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