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Beef/Cattle Extension Program
Question of the Week: Should I body condition score
my cows?
By John Paterson, MSU Extension
Beef/Cattle Specialists.
Scoring cows on the basis of body condition can be
an effective management tool for enhancing reproductive
performance within the cow herd. The critical period
during the reproductive calendar for body condition
is at calving. Problems associated with body condition
can surface in several ways: increased post partum anestrus,
services per conception, calving interval, percent open
cows, and parasite and disease susceptibility. Additionally,
lowered calf weaning weights as a result of lowered
milk production can occur. The latter part of the second
trimester and early third trimester of pregnancy is
an important time period for cow nutrition. Management
decisions involving cow nutrition are important to achieve
the best cow body condition at calving and later post
calving reproductive success. Body condition scoring
(BCS) - aids in nutrition management and enhances reproductive
performance of the cow herd.
Understanding the BCS System
Body condition scores basically describe the degree
of fatness of a cow. A numerical range of 1 to 9 identifies
varying degrees of fatness, with 1 being very thin and
9 being excessively fat. To use the BCS system effectively,
a producer must understand which areas of the cow anatomy
deposit fat (see figure below). When scoring cows for
body condition, be sure to account for pregnancy status,
gut fill, hair coat and age. An average score for body
condition is "5". Once you have identified
a BCS "5" through comparison determine the
scores of the rest of your herd (see BCS chart, back
page). Do not make the mistake of using live weight
as the determining factor for body condition and fat
reserves. Simply, gut fill and pregnancy status prevent
weight from being an accurate indicator of fatness.
Animals can have different live weights but similar
body condition scores. Likewise, animals of similar
live weight, may differ in body condition.
The Best Score
For on- farm application grouping cows using a BCS
range is more practical. Cows scoring 4 or lower are
considered thin and normally experience pregnancy rates
of 60 percent and lower. The best range for BCS is 5
through 7. Cows in this range are moderate in body fatness
and exhibit pregnancy rates over 75 percent. BCS 8 and
9 are relatively fat and exhibit lower reproductive
performance and higher cow maintenance costs. Establish
cow groups on the basis of thin, moderate and fat body
condition. The key to successful on- farm application
of the BCS system is identifying cow groups, not individual
numerical scores. Body Condition scoring can be done
by visually determining the fat cover in the areas shown
(Oklahoma State University).
Scoring for Profit
Feed costs can account for 60 percent of the total
cow/calf budget. Producers can lower cow costs without
sacrificing reproductive performance when sorting cows
on the BCS system. In managing feed resources, identifying
BCS groups can allow more efficient and economical use
of feedstuffs. Separate cows on the basis of thin, moderate
and fat body condition. This approach will better match
feedstuff quality with the nutritional requirements
of each cow group. In short, use higher quality feedstuffs
for thin cows and lower quality for fat cows. The BCS
system can improve herd health, feed-resource management,
reproductive performance and calf weaning weights. All
these benefits associated with the BCS system can improve
profits for beef producers.
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