Body condition scorecard

Body condition scoring (BCS) is a practical way to assess the impact of negative energy balance in early lactation.

Scores range from 1 to 5 in increments of 0.25.

This system concentrates on accurately scoring cows between 2.0 and 4.0, as these are the most critical for management decisions.

Scores outside these values are extreme; those below 2.0 are seriously underconditioned and require immediate attention, as do those at 4.0 and above which are overconditioned and require controlled weight loss.

Scorers using this system will be able to assign BCS consistently and accurately.

The change in body condition score is more important than the absolute value. Score cows regularly throughout the production cycle.

There are six key condition scoring points, as shown in Figure 1:

1. Sacral ligament
2. Tailhead ligament
3. Pins
4. Thurl
5. Short ribs
6. Hooks

Figure 1. Key condition scoring points on the cow

The first decision you make will divide cows into two groups:

• Those with a BCS less than or equal to 3
• Those with a BCS greater than 3

This decision may be the most difficult one in the BCS process, especially if the cow is near a 3.0 or 3.25 BCS.

Figure 2. The v-angle on the left has a BCS of 3.0 or less. The u-angle on the right has a BCS greater than 3.0

Standing at the rear of the cow, assess whether the hooks are rounded or angular:

• Rounded hooks: BCS = 3.0

• Angular hooks: BCS = 2.75 or less

Figure 3. Rounded hooks compared with angular hooks

Refine the score ‘2.75 or less’ by evaluating the pins.

Figure 4. Padded pins indicating a BCS of 2.75

Now you need to feel the pins to assess the presence of a palpable fat pad, one that is not visible to the eye but can be felt, to refine the score of ‘2.5 or less’.

Figure 5. Palpable fat pad on pins – BCS 2.5

Figure 6. No palpable fat pad on pins – BCS 2.25 or less

Evaluate the visibility of the short ribs:

• Look for the bony ridges of the short ribs
• Estimate the distance these ridges are easily seen from the tip of the short ribs to the spine
• Are the ridges visible half of the distance, three-quarters of the distance, or more?

Figure 7. Ribs visible halfway to the spine – BCS 2.25

Figure 8. Ribs visible three-quarters to spine – BCS 2.0

Cows with sawtooth spine and ribs are severely underconditioned and will score less than 2.0.

Standing at the rear of the cow, assess whether both the sacral and tailhead ligaments are fully visible.

Figure 9. Visible sacral (1) and tailhead (2) ligaments indicating a BCS of 3.25

Continue to assess the visibility of the ligaments. The tailhead ligament will become covered in fat first.

Figure 10. Sacral ligament (1) visible. Tailhead ligament (2) barely visible and partly covered in fat – BCS 3.50

The tailhead is now completely covered. Assess the visibility of the sacral ligament to determine a score of 3.75 or 4.0 or more.

Figure 11. Ligament visibility for cows with BCS 3.75, 4.0 and above

BCS 3.75:

• Sacral barely visible
• Tailhead not visible
• Neither ligament easily seen

BCS 4.0 or above:

• Sacral not visible
• Tailhead not visible
• Neither ligament visible

BCS 5.0:

• All bony prominences rounded and covered in fat
• Tailhead buried in fat
• Fat deposits readily seen on rump and legs