Body Condition Scoring

Body condition scoring is a management tool designed to assess body reserves or fat accumulation of an animal. It is a great method for critically examining the nutritional status of your herd. Body condition scoring is a hands-on assessment that uses a numerical rating system based on the feel of the animal rather than descriptions based simply on a visual appraisal. In the winter, it is more effective to implement hands-on body condition scoring versus visual scoring, as winter hair coats can often hide visual cues that only hands-on scoring can assess.

Condition scores are measured by feeling for fat cover with your hands. Fat cover is measured over four major locations on the animal's body: back bone (spine or topline), short ribs, hip bones (hooks and pins) and tail head on a scale of one to five.

A five-point scale is used when scoring cattle, small ruminants, bison, donkey and swine. A score of one is assigned to an extremely skinny or emaciated animal, and a score of five is assigned to an extremely fat or obese animal. Horses are typically scored using a nine-point scale, one being emaciated and nine being obese.

When to Condition Score

Ideally, livestock should be condition scored two to three times in each production year. The best time to check body condition scores is when you are handling them, such as vaccinating or pregnancy checking. Body condition scoring when you are already handling them is a convenient way to incorporate the practice. Scoring your livestock while nutrient needs are the lowest, such as early pregnancy or weaning, will allow you time to bring them into the ideal condition score by the time their needs increase, such as late pregnancy.

Animals that fall into the optimum body condition ranges have conception rates and produce heavier, healthier offspring, compared to animals in suboptimum body conditions. Maintaining a herd in good body condition can be more profitable due to lower feeding costs.

What to Remember

• You don't need to remember all five condition scores. The most useful score to remember is the score of 2.5 to 3.0 or 4 to 5 for horses.
• Check short ribs, tail head and pin bones for fat cover.
• At 2.5 to 3.0, you should be able to feel short ribs with some pressure, but you should not be able to count them individually. Fat cover should be evident on either side of the tail head and/or over pin bones.
• If condition has to be put back onto livestock, the best time to do it is the offspring have been weaned.
• For more information on species-specific body conditioning scoring, refer to the Body Condition Scoring Guides (linked below in the Related Items).