Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring 9 Point System

1. Beef CattleBody Condition Scoring9 Point System Title Slide for Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring – The 9 point system Title Slide for Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring – The 9 point system

2. Body Condition ScoringWhat do I look for? Where do I look? Cow image describing the physical features of a beef animal that are used to determine body condition score. Main features: visible bone structure, muscling and fat cover. Cow image describing the physical features of a beef animal that are used to determine body condition score. Main features: visible bone structure, muscling and fat cover.

3. Condition Score 1 – Emaciated Visible Bone structure Shoulder Ribs Back Hooks Sharp to touch Pins Sharp to touch Muscling Very little Fat Deposits Very little Image of a condition score 1 cow – emaciated. Visible bone structures are the shoulder, ribs and back. Hooks and pins are visible and sharp to the touch. There are very little muscling or fat deposits. Image of a condition score 1 cow – emaciated. Visible bone structures are the shoulder, ribs and back. Hooks and pins are visible and sharp to the touch. There are very little muscling or fat deposits.

4. Condition Score 2 – Very Thin Visible Bone structure Spinous process easily seen Sharp to touch Muscling Some in hindquarters Fat Deposits Very little Image of a condition score 2 cow – very thin. The spinous process should be easily seen and sharp to the touch. There should be some muscling in the hindquarters but very little fat deposits. Image of a condition score 2 cow – very thin. The spinous process should be easily seen and sharp to the touch. There should be some muscling in the hindquarters but very little fat deposits.

5. Body Condition 3 – Thin Visible Bone structure Foreribs remain noticeable Backbone visible Spinous process Palpate w/little pressure Less pronounced intervening space Muscling Muscling apparent Fat Deposits Beginning cover Loin, back, foreribs Image of a condition score 3 cow – thin. The foreribs remain noticeable. The backbone is visible. The spinous process should be able to be felt with little pressure and have a less pronounced intervening space. Muscling is apparent. Fat deposits are beginning to cover the loin, back and foreribs. Image of a condition score 3 cow – thin. The foreribs remain noticeable. The backbone is visible. The spinous process should be able to be felt with little pressure and have a less pronounced intervening space. Muscling is apparent. Fat deposits are beginning to cover the loin, back and foreribs.

6. Body Condition Score 4 – Borderline Visible Bone structure Foreribs not noticeable 12th and 13th ribs noticeable Transverse process Felt with slight pressure Muscling Full but straight (not rounded) Fat Deposits Ribs beginning to be well covered Image of a condition score 4 cow – borderline. The foreribs are not noticeable. The twelfth and thirteenth ribs are noticeable. The transverse process should be able to be felt with slight pressure. Muscling is full by straight (not rounded). The ribs are beginning to be well covered with fat deposits. Image of a condition score 4 cow – borderline. The foreribs are not noticeable. The twelfth and thirteenth ribs are noticeable. The transverse process should be able to be felt with slight pressure. Muscling is full by straight (not rounded). The ribs are beginning to be well covered with fat deposits.

7. Body Condition Score 5 – Moderate Visible Bone structure 12th and 13th rib not visible except shrunk cattle Transverse processes felt w/firm pressure Muscling Full Fat Deposits Area around tail head filled out but not mounded Image of a condition score 5 cow – moderate. The twelfth and thirteenth ribs are not visible except in shrunk cattle. The transverse processes should be able to be felt with firm pressure. Muscling is full. The area around the tail head are filled out but not mounded.Image of a condition score 5 cow – moderate. The twelfth and thirteenth ribs are not visible except in shrunk cattle. The transverse processes should be able to be felt with firm pressure. Muscling is full. The area around the tail head are filled out but not mounded.

8. Body Condition Score 6 – Good Visible Bone structure No distinct structure Transverse processes felt w/firm pressure Muscling Hindquarters plump and full Fat Deposits Sponginess over foreribs Sponginess around tail head Image of a condition score 6 cow – good. No distinct structure can be seen. The transverse processes should be able to be felt with firm pressure. The hindquarters are plump and full. The area over the foreribs and tail head are spongy. Image of a condition score 6 cow – good. No distinct structure can be seen. The transverse processes should be able to be felt with firm pressure. The hindquarters are plump and full. The area over the foreribs and tail head are spongy.

9. Body Condition Score 7 – Very Good Visible Bone structure No distinct structure Ends of spinous process felt w/very firm pressure Muscling Hindquarters plump and full Fat Deposits Abundant fat around tail head w/some patchiness Image of a condition score 7 cow – very good. No distinct structure can be seen. The ends of the spinous process felt with very firm pressure. The hindquarters are plump and full. There's abundant fat around the tail head with some patchiness. Image of a condition score 7 cow – very good. No distinct structure can be seen. The ends of the spinous process felt with very firm pressure. The hindquarters are plump and full. There's abundant fat around the tail head with some patchiness.

10. Body Condition Score 8 – Fat Visible Bone structure No distinct structure to none Muscling Hindquarters plump and full Fat Deposits Thick and spongy Animal appears smooth and blocky Image of a condition score 8 cow – fat. No distinct structure to none at all can be seen. The hindquarters are plump and full. The animal is thick and spongy and appears smooth and blocky. Image of a condition score 8 cow – fat. No distinct structure to none at all can be seen. The hindquarters are plump and full. The animal is thick and spongy and appears smooth and blocky.

11. Body Condition Score 9 – Very Fat Visible Bone structure None Muscling Hindquarters plump and full Fat Deposits Tail head buried in fat Image of a condition score 9 cow – very fat. Bone structure is not visible at all. The hindquarters are plump and full. The tail head is buried in fat. Image of a condition score 9 cow – very fat. Bone structure is not visible at all. The hindquarters are plump and full. The tail head is buried in fat.

12. Your Turn! Your turn! The following images will allow the viewer the opportunity to evaluate body condition scores.Your turn! The following images will allow the viewer the opportunity to evaluate body condition scores.

13. Cow No. 1 Cow Number 1. Red cow with white face.Cow Number 1. Red cow with white face.

14. Cow No. 2 Cow Number 2. Black mottled white face cow.Cow Number 2. Black mottled white face cow.

15. Cow No. 3 Cow Number 3. Cream colored cow.Cow Number 3. Cream colored cow.

16. Cow No. 4 Cow Number 4. Red, white-faced cow.Cow Number 4. Red, white-faced cow.

17. Cow No. 5 Cow Number 5. White cow.Cow Number 5. White cow.

18. BCS 3 – Thin Results for Cow Number 1. Answer is body condition score 3 (thin).Results for Cow Number 1. Answer is body condition score 3 (thin).

19. BCS 2 – Very Thin Results for Cow Number 2. Body condition score 2 (very thin).Results for Cow Number 2. Body condition score 2 (very thin).

20. BCS 6 – Good Results for Cow Number 3. Body condition score 6 (good).Results for Cow Number 3. Body condition score 6 (good).

21. BCS 8 – Fat Results for Cow Number 4. Body condition score 8 (fat).Results for Cow Number 4. Body condition score 8 (fat).

22. BCS 5 – Moderate Results for Cow Number 5. Body condition score 5 (moderate).Results for Cow Number 5. Body condition score 5 (moderate).

23. How close were you? Experienced body condition scorers are generally within one body condition score of one another. Individuals with no experience generally are capable of repeating scores 68% of the time; whereas, experienced scorers are capable of repeating scores 83% of the time. (Vizcarra and Wettemann. Prof Anim Sci, 1996) How close were you? Experienced body condition scorers are generally within one body condition score of one another. Individuals with no experience generally are capable of repeating scores 68% of the time; whereas, experienced scorers are capable of repeating scores 83% of the time. How close were you? Experienced body condition scorers are generally within one body condition score of one another. Individuals with no experience generally are capable of repeating scores 68% of the time; whereas, experienced scorers are capable of repeating scores 83% of the time.