Body Condition Scoring

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Body Condition Scoring

• Chris Ellason

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Introduction

• What is Body Condition Scoring (BCS)?
• Nutritional Priorities of Cattle
• Body Condition Scoring System
• BCS in Relationship to Pregnancy Rate
• Body Condition at Calving
• How Body Conditioning Can Effect Economics.

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What is Body Condition Scoring(BCS)?

• Management Tool
• Obtain a simple and reliable measure of the level
  of body reserves in live animals

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Priority of Nutrient UseCattlemans Perspective

• Reproduction
• Lactation
• Maintenance
• Growth

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Priority of Nutrient UseDairymans perspective

• Lactation
• Lactation
• Lactation
• Lactation

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Nutritional Priorities of Cattle

• Body Maintenance
• Lactation and care of offspring
• Growth
• Reproduction
• Fetal Development
• Storage

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Body Condition Scoring System

• Scale rages from 1 to 9
• 1-4 Angular
• 5 Average
• 6-9 On the Larger Side

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BCS 1

• Extremely Thin
• All Skeletal Structures are Visible
• No Muscle Tissue is Evident
• No External Fat Present

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BCS 2

• Very Thin
• Skeletal Structures are Visible
• Muscle Tissue is Evident , but Not Abundant
• No External Fat Present

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BCS 3

• Thin
• Upper Skeleton is Prominent
• Muscle Tissue is More Abundant
• Body Fat is Not Obvious

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BCS 4

• Marginal
• Skeletal Structures Less Obvious
• Muscle Tissue is Abundant
• Fat is Beginning to Cover Ribs

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BCS 5

• Medium Flesh for Calving
• Idea flesh at Weaning
• Ribcage is Only Slightly Visible
• Muscle Tissue is Nearing Maximum
• Fat Deposits are Noticeable

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BCS 6

• Idea Flesh at Calving
• Muscle Tissue Volume is at a Maximum
• Fat Deposit Behind Shoulder is Obvious
• Fat Beginning to Cover Rump

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BCS 7

• Slightly Overconditioned for Efficient Production
• Fat Deposits Behind Shoulder and at Tailhead are
  Obvious
• Fat Appearance Over Topline

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BCS 8

• Overconditioned
• Skeletal Structures are Invisible
• Fat Deposits are Flattening Rump
• Fat is Filling Brisket and Over Shoulder

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BCS 9

• Obese
• Flat Appearance Dominates
• Brisket is Heavy

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BCS in Relationship to Pregnancy Rate

• 80 Days After Calving to Get Bred
• 62 of Cows With BCS 4 Were in Heat by 80 Days
  After Calving
• 88 of Cows With BCS 5 Were in Heat By 80 Days
  After Calving
• 98 of Cows With BCS 6 Were in Heat by 80 Days
  After Calving

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BCS vs Conception rate
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Body Condition at Calving

• Young Cows Require About One BCS Higher to
  Achieve the Same Reproductive Performance as
  Mature Cows
• It is Easier to Increase Condition Before Calving
  Rather then After they Calve
• Acceptable BCS Prior to Calving is 6 or Higher

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How Body Conditioning Can Effect Economics

• BCS is related to Pregnancy Rate, Calving
  Interval, Calf Age at Weaning and Calf Daily
  Gain, All of this Equal Money
• Income is Reduced by 107 when BCS is decreased
  from 5 to 4
• Income is Only Reduced by 27 when BCS is Reduced
  from 6 to 5

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Exceptions to the rule

• 25 year old Longhorn cow that just weaned her 23
  calf
• Adjust the 1-9 BCS system to fit the cattle in
  your operation
• South Texas
• Iowa
• Arizona

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Summary

• Good Reproductive Performance Requires BCS of 5
  or Higher
• Nutrition is very important in Maintaining BCS
• Indicator of forage availability/quality
• The Routine Use of BCS in Each Herd Will Provide
  Needed Information to Manage the Cow Herd for a
  High Calf Crop and Profitability