Body Condition Scoring in Dairy Cattle

Nusdianto Triakoso

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Goals of Body Condition Scoring

• Early detection of potential health problems.

• Identifiy area for improved feeding management.

• Improve herd health, production, reproduction, profitability.

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Effect of Lactation Stage

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Ranges of Ideal BCS

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Side view Rear view

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Side view

• First view the pelvic area from the side.

• Check line from hooks to thurls, to the pins.

• Make a decision about the line over the thurl, this is the cut point between 3.0 or less and 3.25 or greater scores.

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Side view

• If the line forms a flattened V, then BCS ≤ 3.0

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Side view

• If the line forms cressted or flattened U consider BCS ≥ 3.25

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Rear view

• If sacral and tailhead ligaments visible BCS = 3.25

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Rear View

• If sacral ligament and tailhead ligament barely visible BCS = 3.50

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Rear view

• If sacral ligament barely visible and tailhead ligament not visible BCS = 3.75

• If sacral and tailhead ligaments not visible BCS = 4.00

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Rear view

• If hooks rounded BCS = 3.00

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Rear view

• If hooks angular BCS < 2.75

• Check pins. If pins padded BCS = 2.75

• If no fat on pins BCS < 2.50

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Rear view

• View the short ribs. Look for corrugation along the top of the short ribs as fat covering dissapears.

• If corrugation visible ½ way between tip and spine of short ribs BCS = 2.25

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Rear view

• If corrugation way from tip to spine BCS = 2.0

• If thurl prominent and saw toothed spine BCS < 2.0

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Rear view

• If thurl flat BCS < 4.0

• If tip of short ribs barely visible BCS = 4.25

• If thurl flat and pins burried BCS = 4.5

• If hooks barely visible BCS = 4.75

• If all boney prominent well rounded BCS = 5.0

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Excercise

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