Body Condition Scoring of Beef Cattle, Sheep and Goats Scott Morey DVM, MS Tolland, CT

BCS in Beef Cattle Importance in monitoring herd nutritional status Varies throughout the year Ranges from 1(thin) to 9 (obese) Utilize to manage feeding practices Prepare animals before “need” Close link between BCS and many factors https://animalscience.tamu.edu/2017/08/08/some-thoughts-on-body-condition-scoring-of-cows/

Remember: A Beef Cows job is to make a Calf Strong link between low BCS and… Reproductive performance/open cows Failure to cycle Failure to conceive Calving interval Calf vigor at birth http://www.mibeef.org/beefproduction.aspx

https://beef. unl. edu/learning/condition1a. shtml http://www https://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition1a.shtml http://www.wyoextension.org/publications/html/B1294/

Normal Variations in Body Condition Typical Range is 3 to 7 Can vary between animal in a herd Will vary throughout the year In my opinion, fat is just as bad as thin One BCS is about 100 lbs. Ex. BCS 5=1200 lbs., then 6=1300 lbs.

Investigating Variations Fat Cows: Not “Working” (lactation, gestation) Confinement –Pasture vs. Paddock Over-feeding Thin Cows Under-feeding – #1 reason in my opinion (basic math) Parasitism Excess work - twin pregnancy, lactation in certain breeds

Financial Implications Fat Cows: In general, cows eat 3% of their body weight daily. Roughly $4-5 per day in CT. 10 cows @ 1400 lbs. (BCS 6) = 14,000 lbs. 10 cows @ 1600 lbs. (BCS 8) = 16,000 lbs. Difference of 2,000 lbs. OR 1.5 cows OR $7.50/day OR $225/month Thin Cows: Takes roughly 10 lb. of feed to make 1 lb. weight gain BCS 3 @ 900 lbs.. Needs to gain 3 scores (300-450 lbs.) 400 lbs. x 10 lbs. of feed = 4500 lbs. of EXTRA feed 1500lbs grain + 3000 lbs. roughage = $581 to “catch up”

https://www.grass-fed-solutions.com/body-condition-scoring.html

Where to Look https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/400/400-795/400-795.html

https://animalscience. tamu https://animalscience.tamu.edu/2017/08/08/some-thoughts-on-body-condition-scoring-of-cows/

https://pubs. ext. vt. edu/400/400-795/400-795. html https://www https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/400/400-795/400-795.html https://www.pinterest.com/pin/510806782713253257/

http://www. thecattlesite http://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/674/body-condition-scoring-beef-cows

https://futurebeef. com https://futurebeef.com.au/knowledge-centre/body-condition-score-for-beef-cattle/

https://appgrooves.com/app/body-condition-score-beef-cows-by-the-university-of-nebraska-lincoln

Optimal Timing Goal of BCS 5-7 at time of calving May require increasing or decreasing feed prior to Expect a drop in BCS from lactation demand post-calving It’s hard to increase BCS after calving Goal of BCS 6 or higher at breeding About 90 days after calving May be difficult during winter calving This is when nutritional management is most important IDEALS WILL VARY WITH DIFFERENT HERDS AND LOCATIONS

Overall BCS monitoring is a management tool Fluctuates throughout the year Use to help manage feed costs Maintain reproductive efficiency Prevent disease

BCS in Sheep

BCS Scoring in Sheep Sheep are hard to assess visually Wool cover prevents “eyeballing” them most of the time Scale from 1 to 5 (thin to obese) Usually 0.5 increments Age, pregnancy and wool can affect interpretation of BCS Parasitism is a serious health concern BCS monitoring can help find “outliers” in a flock Causes weight loss Failure to gain (as a flock or individually)

Need To Be Hands On! It can be obvious to see a 1 or a 5, but you can not do a real assessment of a flock without being hands on. http://www.sheep101.info/201/feedingewes.html http://www.infonet-biovision.org/AnimalHealth/Sheep-new-animal-welfare-information

Feel the Topline/Lumbar Vertebrae Palpating 3 things Spinous processes Epaxial Muscles Fat Cover Each lumbar vertebrae has 3 processes Dorsal Spinous Left and right transverse

Stage of Production Optimum BCS Maintenance 2 Breeding 3 Early Gestation 2+ Late Gestation 3 Lambing 3+ Weaning 2 REMEMBER: IDEALS WILL VARY!!! https://www.apsc.vt.edu/content/dam/apsc_vt_edu/extension/sheep/programs/shepherds-symposium/2012/12_symposium_greiner_bcs.pdf

BCS in Goats

BCS in Goats Similar in concepts to sheep Differences Meat vs. Dairy Shorter hair coats Sternum http://www2.luresext.edu/goats/research/bcshowto.html

BCS 1 http://articles.extension.org/pages/21636/goat-body-condition-score-introduction

BCS 2 http://articles.extension.org/pages/21636/goat-body-condition-score-introduction

BCS 3 http://articles.extension.org/pages/21636/goat-body-condition-score-introduction

BCS 4 http://articles.extension.org/pages/21636/goat-body-condition-score-introduction

BCS 5 http://articles.extension.org/pages/21636/goat-body-condition-score-introduction

Questions?