WI MAQA - January Care And Management MAQA (Meat Animal Quality Assurance)

WI MAQA - January Animal Evaluation Good performance of animals indicate positive animal well-being. Good performance of animals indicate positive animal well-being. Indications: Indications: Average Daily Gain - Amount an animal gains per day Average Daily Gain - Amount an animal gains per day Feed Efficiency - Pounds of weight gained per pound of feed consumed Feed Efficiency - Pounds of weight gained per pound of feed consumed Lameness, skin lesions, abscesses, wounds Lameness, skin lesions, abscesses, wounds Disease Disease Body Condition Scores Body Condition Scores Etc.. Etc.. Observe animals Daily! Write down what you see. Observe animals Daily! Write down what you see.

WI MAQA - January Examples: Sores & Abscesses

WI MAQA - January Why Body Condition Score (BCS)? Breeding Animals Breeding Animals Animals breed easier Animals breed easier Higher Ovulation Rate Higher Ovulation Rate Lose fewer offspring Lose fewer offspring Produce adequate colostrum for offspring Produce adequate colostrum for offspring Healthy, Balanced Diet Healthy, Balanced Diet Market Animals Correctly finished Ready for Harvest Increased Marbling Increased Taste

How do you evaluate BCS? Look at the backbone, ribs, hips, pin bones, tail head and brisket Look at the backbone, ribs, hips, pin bones, tail head and brisket Separate into Thin, Moderate and Fat Groups Separate into Thin, Moderate and Fat Groups WI MAQA - January

6 Beef 9 point scale BCS 1 – Thin BCS 1 – Thin BCS 5 – Moderate BCS 5 – Moderate BCS 9 – Fat, Heavy Condition BCS 9 – Fat, Heavy Condition inches of fat inches of fat.7 – 1.0 or more inches of fat

What BCS is each of these animals? Choices are: BSC 3, BCS 5, BCS 7 WI MAQA - January

Swine & Sheep Point Scale BCS 1 – Very Thin BCS 1 – Very Thin Skeletal structure easily seen, no fat over muscle Skeletal structure easily seen, no fat over muscle BCS 2 – Thin BCS 2 – Thin Skeletal structure still easily seen, with a little more fat cover. Skeletal structure still easily seen, with a little more fat cover. BCS 3 – Average or Normal BCS 3 – Average or Normal Skeletal structure is not easily visible, fat cover is visible. Skeletal structure is not easily visible, fat cover is visible. BCS 4 – Fat BCS 4 – Fat Appears smooth, fat filling in tailhead, flanks, etc.. Appears smooth, fat filling in tailhead, flanks, etc.. BCS 5 – Very Fat BCS 5 – Very Fat No visible bone structure, flat looking loin, hip and tailhead due to heavy fat cover. No visible bone structure, flat looking loin, hip and tailhead due to heavy fat cover. WI MAQA - January

9 BCS 2 BCS 4

Sheep BCS – 5 point scale Which Ewe is BCS 1, BCS 3, BCS 5? WI MAQA - January