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B88 Body Condition Scoring of Cattle

Lesson Outline

Introduction

Body condition scoring (BCS) is a useful management tool for distinguishing differences in nutritional needs of beef cows in the herd.

This system uses a numeric score to estimate body energy reserves in the cow.

Research indicates that there is a strong link between the body condition of a cow and her reproductive performance.

The percentage of open cows, calving interval, and calf vigor at birth are all closely related to the body condition of cows both at calving and during the breeding season.

All these factors play an important role in the economics of a beef cow-calf operation and help determine the percentage of viable calves each year.

Monitoring body condition using the BCS system is an important management tool for assessing production efficiency.

Numerical Scoring System 1-9

Body condition scores are excellent indicators of the nutritional status in beef cows. Ideal live weight varies from cow to cow, whereas ideal body condition (BCS 5-6) is the same for all cows.

Also, body condition can be measured in the field without gathering or working cattle.

Body condition scores are numbers used to estimate energy reserves in the form of fat and muscle of beef cows. BCS ranges from 1 to 9, with a score of 1 being extremely thin and 9 being very obese.

Areas such as the back, tail head, pins, hooks, ribs, and brisket of beef cattle can be used to determine BCS.

Be aware that gut fill due to rumen contents or pregnancy can change the appearance of moderately fleshy cows, especially over the ribs or in front of the hooks.

Long hair can often make it difficult to correctly evaluate the body condition score of a beef cow or heifer.

When the hair on the cow is long, palpating the specific areas of fat deposition is particularly important.

Cows should be palpated over the back, ribs, and over the horizontal processes of the backbone (edge of loin).

"Thin" cows will have a sharper feel in these areas than cows with moderate or fat body conditions.

It is important to be aware that the breed of beef cow can have a strong influence on where body fat is deposited.

For example, Bos taurus breeds and crossbreds will show a more uniform distribution of fat across the ribs, whereas Bos indicus cattle may have very little fat over the ribs but will deposit fat over the hooks and pin bones.

Terms

Tail Head
Hooks
Pins
Transverse Spinous Process (Short Ribs)
Ribs

Body Condition Score: 1

Condition: Emaciated

Bone structure of shoulder, ribs, back, hooks, and pins sharp to touch and easily visible. Little evidence of fat deposits or muscling.

Body Condition Score: 2

Condition: Very Thin

Little evidence of fat deposits, but some muscling in hindquarters. The spinous processes feel sharp to the touch and are easily seen, with space between them.

Body Condition Score: 3

Condition: Thin

Fat beginning to cover over the loin, back, and fore ribs. Backbone still highly visible. Spinous processes can be identified individually by touch and may still be visible. Spaces between the processes are less pronounced.

Body Condition Score: 4

Condition: Borderline

Fore ribs not noticeable. The transverse spinous processes can be identified only by palpation to feel rounded rather than sharp. Full muscling in the hindquarters.

Body Condition Score: 5

Condition: Moderate

12th and 13th ribs not visible to the eye unless animal has been shrunk. Transverse spinous processes and spaces between are not noticeable to the eye and can be identified only with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tail head are fairly well filled, but not rounded.

Body Condition Score: 6

Condition: Good

Ribs fully covered, not noticeable to the eye. Hindquarters plump and full. Noticeable sponginess to covering of fore ribs and each side of tail head.

Body Condition Score: 7

Condition: Very Good

End of spinous processes can only be felt with firm pressure; spaces between can be barely distinguished at all. Abundant fat cover on either side of tail head.

Body Condition Score: 8

Condition: Fat

Animal taking on smooth, blocky appearance; bone structure disappearing from sight. Fat cover thick and spongy.

Body Condition Score: 9

Condition: Very Fat

Bone structure not easily seen or felt. Tail head buried in fat. Mobility may actually be impaired by excess amount of fat.

Importance of Body Condition

In order to manage a beef cow-calf operation in the most cost-efficient way, producers must be aware of the body condition of their herd.

Research indicates that the body condition of beef cows is related to many critical aspects of production, such as conception rate, days to estrus, calving interval, and milk production.

When cows are extremely thin (BCS < 4), they are not only reproductively inefficient, but they are more susceptible to health problems.

Cows at BCS 1 are in a life-threatening situation and need immediate attention.

Cows that are over-conditioned (BCS 8-9) are the most costly to maintain. Two-year-olds with BCS 8-9 may encounter dystocia(calving difficulty) due to the excessive fat in the pelvic area.

Body Condition Scores

On average, most beef cows score in the range of 3 to 7 throughout the year.

A cow is expected to be in optimal body condition (BCS 5-7) before calving.

She may lose condition after calving and possibly into the breeding season.

She may gain condition and weight as weaning approaches (assuming there is adequate forage) and continue gaining fetal weight and any needed body condition in late gestation.

Body condition should be evaluated 60-90 days before calving.

By assigning BCS scores at this time, the cows can be sorted for appropriate feeding.

Grouping cows by feed requirements and feeding them accordingly can help each of them reach BCS 5-7 by calving.

Scoring cows 60-90 days before calving allows the producer to evaluate the dry cow nutritional program while allowing enough time prior to calving for "emergency feeding" if needed.

Although body condition should be evaluated at calving, it may be difficult to increase body condition since lactation requires most of the energy a cow consumes.

If environmental conditions at the time of calving are mild, cows may be able to reach BCS 5 or 6 by breeding time.

However, this is unlikely to occur when the weather is cold or high quality feeds are limited.

Weight VS Body Condition Score

Live weight should not solely be used as an indicator of nutritional status of beef cows in a herd.

Research indicates that body condition is a more reliable indicator of nutritional status than live weight.

Most herds have cows that range in age, frame size, and muscling, all of which impact the weight of the animals.

Therefore, only using live weight may over-or under-estimate the amount of body fat.

Live weight is also affected greatly by gut fill and pregnancy.

High & Low Body Condition Scores

Thin Condition BCS 1-4

Fat Condition BCS 8-9

1. Failure to cycle

1. Costly to maintain

2. Failure to conceive

2. Increased dystocia

3. Increased calving interval

3. Impaired mobility

4. Increased days to estrus

4. Failure to cycle

5. Decreased calf vigor

5. Failure to conceive

Reference Table

  Body Condition Scores
Reference Point   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9
Physically weak   Yes   no   No   No   No   No   No   No   No
Muscle atrophy   Yes   Yes   Slight   No   No   No   No   No   No
Outline of spine visible   Yes   Yes   Yes   No   No   No   No   No   No
Outline of ribs visible   All   All   All   3-5   1-2   0   0   0   0
Outline of hip & pin bones visible   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Slight   No   No
Fat in brisket and flanks   No   No   No   No   No   Some   Full   Full   Extreme
Fat udder & patchy fat around tail head   No   No   No   No   No   No   Slight   Yes   Extreme

Nutritional Priorities

When nutrient intake fulfills the highest priority requirements, the excess is used to fill lower priority requirements. When all current requirements are fulfilled, the excess is stored as fat. During periods of low energy intake, excess external body fat is the first body tissue used to meet nutritional requirements. When energy is insufficient, fat stores may not be enough to fulfill requirements. When this happens, muscle (protein) is broken down to satisfy energy demand.

HIGHEST PRIORITY

Maintenance
Growth
Lactation
Fetal growth
Breeding
Body reserve

LOWEST PRIORTY

Nutritional Programs

Since feed costs make up roughly 60% of the cost of a cow-calf operation, different feeding programs can be used to achieve the best reproductive performance without high costs.

Choosing a calving season that is most compatible with your forage program is the first step in maximizing cow condition and reproduction.

Understand that the changes that occur in body weight and condition are normal in the production cycle of the cow.

A medium-framed beef cow that is open will gain or lose approximately 75-100 pounds for each body condition score change.

For example, a medium-framed beef cow with a BCS 5, weighing 1100 pounds, will be a BCS 3 and weigh approximately 900-950 pounds with a loss of 150-200 pounds and a decrease of two body condition scores.

Moreover, an additional 100 pounds is typically gained during the last trimester of gestation for fetal growth and uterine development.

90 to 100 Days Prepartum to Achieve a BCS of 5 to 7 by Calving

Score Desired Condition at Calving Recommendations
2 5 Needs to gain 300 to 350 lb. Economics questionable.
3 5 Needs to gain 200 to 300 lb.
4 5 Needs to gain 150 to 200 lb.
5 5-7 Needs to gain weight of fetus and placenta 100 lb.
6 5-7 Needs to gain weight of fetus and assorted tissues 100 lb.
7 5-7 No weight gain needed.
8 5-7 Can probably lose 50 to 100 lb.

Summary

Achieving a BCS of 5 or more before calving and throughout the production cycle is a key to a profitable cow-calf operation.

Maintaining and feeding beef cows to attain a BCS in the optimum moderate range (BCS 5-7) allows beef cows to achieve maximum reproductive performance while feed supplementation costs are held to a minimum.

By sorting and feeding groups based on BCS, the economics of the operation improve.

Producers need to pay attention to stocking rates and pasture quality. Overstocking and poor forage quality can lead to "thin" cows.