1. Body Condition Score in Dairy Cattle
Presented by : Dr. Reza Tahmasbi

2. INTRODUCTION
Using body condition score to fine tune herd nutrition and health management has become a widely accepted practice.

3. Goals of Body Condition Scoring :
Improve herd health , production and
reproduction.
Early detection of potential health problems .
Identify areas for improved feeding management .

4. Fig Metabolic disorders often occur in a predictable sequence or cascade (Courtesy of Dana Boeck)

5. Areas to Evaluate Short Ribs Hooks Pins Sacral Ligament Thurl Hooks
Tailhead Ligament
Thurl
Pins

6. BCS 1 Hooks , Pines, Spine & ribs very sharp .
Deep cavities around tailhead .
Thin legs , poor muscle condition .

7. BCS 2 V-angle formed between hooks , thurl &pins Visible backbone
Tip of short ribs smooth , but visible

8. BCS 3 : Good Condition More flesh covering backbone .
Tip of short ribs smooth .
Hook and pins rounded and smooth

9. BCS 4 : Over- Conditioned
Backbone barely visible .
Short ribs very smooth, tips barely visible .
Hooks and pins very smooth , but visible
Flat between hooks and pins

10. BCS 5 : Severely Over- conditioned
All boney prominences rounded & coverd in fat
Tailhead buried in fat
Fat deposits readily seen on rump & legs

11. Nutrient and Milk Yield Relationship in the Lactaion and Gestation cycle1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
period
Month
Freshening
Body Stores Used for Milk Production
Body Stores REGAINED FOR Next lactation
Dry period Rumen Rehab
Dry Matter Intake
Milk Production
Body Weight

12. BSC and Milk Production
BCS at calving :
< reduced milk yield
reduced milk yield
BCS change after calving :
Decrease of 1 BCS unit increase of 930 Ib milk in 305 –d lactation

13. BCS Changes Over Lactation
Efficient , high producing cows do not experience large changes in body condition .
Inefficient , Low producing cows increase in BCS over a lactation .
Most cows are between these extremes :
BCS decrease to about 100 days
Then increase until dry- off

14. Recommended BCS by stage of Lactation
BCS
Stage of lactation
DIM
Goal
Min
Max
calving
3.5
3.25
3.75
Early Lactation
1 to 30
3.00
2.75
Peak Milk
31 to 100
2.50
Mid lactation
101 to 200
Late Lactation
201 to 300
Dry Off
> 300
dry
Butler and Smith , 2005

15. BCS in Early Lactation Recommended Score : 2.75 to 3.25
Nutritional Objectives :
Maximize intake of high energy ration
Ration must contain enough protein to support high milk production

16. Red Flags – Early Lactation
BCS < 2.75 and low milk production
Too little energy provided in ration.
BCS > 3.25
Too little protein provided in ration to support milk production .

17. BCS at Peak Milk Yield Recommended Score : 2.5 to 3.25
Nutritional Objectives:
Maximize intake of high energy ration .
Minimize body condition loss and offset negative energy balance.

18. Red Flags – Peak Milk BCS < 2.25 and low milk production
Too little energy provided in ration .
BCS > 3.25
Too little protein provided in ration.

19. BCS in Late Lactation Recommended Score : 3.0 to 3.75
Nutritional Objectives:
Replenish body reserves to prepare for next lactation.
Avoid over conditioning

20. Red Flags – Late Lactation
BCS < 3
Too little energy provided in ration
BCS > 3.75
Too much energy provided in ration
Also may result from extended calving intervals

21. Nutritional Strategies to mange BCS :
Feed extra energy in early lactation to offset negative energy balance
After Peak Milk :
Balance ration to avoid over conditioning.
If cows fat at dry-off :
Feed average quality grass forages
Supplement 3 to 4 pounds of grain

22. CONCLUSION
Body condition scoring is an important animal management practice used by producers as a tool to help optimize production, evaluate health & assess nutritional .