Overview of Body Condition Scoring System

 

What is Body Condition Scoring?

  • A number, 1 through 9, which is assigned and indicates overall condition of the cow, including  fat deposition and muscling (are muscles atrophied or is there full muscling).
  • Body condition Scores 1 through 3 represent cattle in thin condition
  • Body Condition Score 4 indicates a cow that is borderline between thin and good condition
  • Body condition Scores of 5,6, or 7 represent cattle in optimum condition
  • Body Condition Scores 8 and 9 indicate fat cattle

 

Reasons to Body Condition Score

  • Cows in optimum condition have increased reproductive performance
  • Increased reproductive performance includes but is not limited to:
    •  higher conception rates
    • shorter postpartum interval, which means cows will breed back faster
    • shorter calving intervals
  • More representative of actual condition of cow than weighing
  • Aides in making supplementation and stocking

 

Guide to Body Condition Scoring Cattle

Body Condition Score
Physical
Attribute		 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Spine Visible Visible Visible Slightly visible Not visible Not visible Not visible Not visible Not visible
Ribs Visible Visible Visible  Foreribs visible 1 or 2 may be visible Not visible Not visible Not visible Not visible
Hooks/Pins Visible Visible Visible Visible Visible Visible Slightly visible Not visible Not visible
Tailhead No fat No fat No fat No fat No fat Some fat Some fat Abundant Fat Extremely Fat
Brisket No fat No fat No fat No fat No fat Some fat Fat Abundant Fat Extremely Fat
Muscling None/
atrophy		 None/ atrophy None Full Full Full Full Full Full

 Diagram of cow

 

Body Condition Scoring Helpful Pointers

BCS Score 2:

This score is usually very rare
No external fat
Extremely lean
All Skeletal structures are obvious

BCS Score 2:

Very Thin
Skeletal structures are obvious
Muscle tissue is slightly noticeable
No external fat
BCS Score 3:

Thin
Muscle tissue is more abundant
Body fat is not obvious
Upper skeleton is prominent
BCS Score 4:

Muscle tissue is abundant
Ribs noticeable but overall fat cover is lacking
Hooks and pins become less obvious
Hips and backbone slightly rounded versus sharp appearance
BCS Score 5:

Moderate
Ideal flesh and weaning
In general only the 12th and the 13th ribs are distinguishable
Muscle tissue is close to maximum
Fat deposit behind shoulder is noticeable

BCS Score 6:BCS Score 6:

Good
Ideal flesh at calving
Ribs are covered completely with fat beginning to cover rump
Ribcage barely visible
Muscle tissue is at its greatest

 

BCS Score 7:

Fat
Ribs are not visible
Skeletal structures are becoming difficult to identify
Fat deposits under udder and behind the shoulders
Fat deposit behind shoulder is noticeable

 

BCS Score 8:

Very Fat
Mobility may begin to be restricted
Skeletal structures are invisible
Fat is filling brisket and over shoulder

 

BCS Score 9:

Obese
Majority of fat is in udder and limits effective lactation
Brisket is heavy
Flat appearance dominates

 

 

Relationship Between Body Condition Scoring and Total Body Fat

BCS   Total Body Fat in %
1 0.7
2 5.0
3 9.3
4 13.7
5 18.0
6 22.3
7 26.7
8 31.0
9 35.3

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