Why is condition scoring important

The impacts are even greater for a BCS of 3 and is a condition that should never happen with any of the cows in the herd. Many beef producers are involved in diversified farming operations. These operations may combine cattle with row crops, poultry houses, timber and many other time consuming production practices.

Regardless of the combination, additional obligations may limit the amount of time producers can spend evaluating body condition. However, neglecting to properly observe and record body condition can have a substantial impact on overall productivity and profits. To properly identify cattle that have increased nutritional needs, producers should evaluate body condition as often as possible, but a minimum of three times weaning, 90 days pre-calving and breeding per year is preferred.

Cattle that are calving should have enough body condition to allow for a reduction in body mass due to weight being lost during the parturition process and fluids being displaced. Body condition score at calving time provides the best prediction of re-breeding performance. Evaluating BCS approximately 90 days prior to calving allows sufficient time to adjust the feed ration to ensure cows are in adequate body condition at calving. Evaluating body condition at weaning can be useful to determine which cows or heifers need the most gain prior to calving.

Since calves will no longer suckle, lactating cows will be able to dry off and add needed weight before calving. The time period from weaning to calving has proven to be the easiest and most economical time to add condition to cattle. Producers who fail to evaluate body condition and adjust the nutritional needs of the cow herd after weaning may have difficulty adding condition later in the production cycle. Assessing body condition 90 days prior to the beginning of the calving season may be useful in preventing extended periods of anestrus.

This score may be taken at weaning in herds that delay weaning until calves are 8 to10 months of age. However, weaning calves at least 90 days prior to the start of the calving season is recommended. Cow nutritional requirements are greatly lowered when non-lactating and should allow the cow to achieve adequate body condition at calving with minimal supplemental feeding. Nutrition can then be adjusted for cattle that receive body condition scores of less than 5 after this assessment.

Although changes in weight can be achieved, take care to prevent excessive weight gain immediately prior to calving. After undergoing the stress of parturition, cattle will lose body condition. The time period from calving to breeding is the most difficult in which to improve body condition. This is why it is very important to body condition score cows 90 days prior to calving and make ration changes to achieve optimum BCS prior to calving.

Approximately 90 percent of cattle in optimum body condition will resume estrus cyclic activity 60 days postpartum. Assessing body condition at breeding may offer useful information that may help explain reduced pregnancy rates. The calving season in Georgia varies widely among cattle operations, but most calves are born from September through March. In the southeast, cows calving in the fall months are likely to have adequate body condition score, so the winter feeding period usually begins shortly after the calving season begins.

Therefore, cows are lactating throughout the winter feeding period. Increased demands of lactation and declining feed quality during the fall months often causes inadequate body condition by the start of the breeding season, which begins in early- to mid-winter. The majority of producers feed hay as the base diet during this period. Hay will likely require supplementation and the hay feeding period may last throughout the breeding period for cows calving during the fall. In contrast, cows calving in late winter will be in late gestation and early lactation during the winter feeding period.

Body condition score at calving will have to be monitored more closely than fall calving cows as the cows will be fed hay through most of the last trimester. Cows will likely be fed a hay based diet that requires supplementation during the early lactation period. However, supplementation can cease when hay feeding stops and grazing becomes available. Cows should be able to increase body condition score when grazing lush spring growth of fescue, ryegrass, or small grain pasture. The easiest and most economical time to improve body condition score is from weaning to calving.

In situations where cows calve in a less than adequate body condition, weight gain must be increased rapidly following calving to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates at the end of the breeding season. The most difficult period to maintain body condition is from calving to breeding. Body condition score and re-breeding rates can be improved in cows calving in less than a 5 condition score if fed to increase condition prior to the beginning of the breeding season.

Mature cows, however, will respond to supplementation much better than first calf heifers. Table 4 illustrates the effects of body condition score at calving and subsequent body weight gain on pregnancy rates of first calf heifers. Heifers that calved in a body condition score of 5 or above had greater than 90 percent pregnancy rates when either gaining weight or maintaining weight. In heifers calving in a BCS of less than 5, pregnancy rate was increased from 36 to 67 percent by increasing daily gain from 0.

Even though increasing daily gains improved pregnancy rates, the 67 percent pregnancy rate is not acceptable and was far below both groups calving in a condition score of 5 or greater. This study shows that, for first calf heifers, body condition score at calving is the key component to high re-breeding rates.

Body condition score at calving is less critical for mature cows. Certainly, it is ideal to have cows in a body condition score of 5 at calving through breeding. Acceptable re-breeding rates, however, can be achieved in mature cows that calve in borderline BCS of 4 condition if cows are fed to increase body condition score to a 5 at the start of the breeding season.

A study evaluated the effects of nutrient intake from the second trimester through the start of the breeding season. The first group was fed to maintain a body condition score of 5 from the second trimester to the start of the breeding season. The second group was fed to be a BCS of 4 during the second trimester, and then regain condition during the third trimester to a BCS of 5 at calving.

The third group was fed to be in a BCS of 4 from the second trimester through 28 days post-calving, and then gain weight to be in a BCS of 5 at the start of the breeding season.

Table 5 shows the body condition scores and Table 6 shows the post-calving weight gains and pregnancy rates. All groups were in a BCS of 5 just prior to the start of the breeding season as planned. Acceptable pregnancy rates occurred in all groups.

Cows that calved in a BCS of 5 to 6 lost weight from calving to the start of the breeding season; cows that calved in a BCS of 4. Such rapid weight gain would require a grain-based or corn silage based diet. Percentage of empty body fat corresponding to each body condition score on a scale from 1 to 9.

Washington, D. The most important characteristics describing the nine-point scale of body condition scoring system, according to the Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle , are as follows:. The cow is severely emaciated and physically weak. Bone structure of shoulder, ribs, back, hooks, and pins are sharp to the touch and easily visible. No evidence of fat deposits or muscling.

This body condition score is rarely observed in the field. The cow appears emaciated but not weak. No evidence of fat deposition. Muscle atrophy is significant in the shoulder, over the loin and rump, and through the hindquarters. The spinous and transverse processes, hooks, and pins feel sharp to the touch and are easily seen. Very little fat cover over the shoulder, loin, and rump. The foreribs have slight evidence of fat deposition, but the last three or more ribs can be seen.

The backbone is still highly visible. Processes of the spine can be identified individually by touch and may still be visible. Spaces between the processes are less pronounced.

There is evidence of muscle loss in the hindquarters. Foreribs are slightly noticeable and the 12th and 13th ribs are still easily visible. Muscle atrophy is still noticeable over shoulders, loin, and hindquarters, but is approaching normal. The transverse and spinous processes can be identified only by palpation with slight pressure and feel rounded rather than sharp.

The hooks and pins are covered in minimal fat and easily identified. There is slight evidence of fat deposition in the brisket.

Muscle expression in the shoulder, loin, rump, and hindquarters is normal. The last two ribs 12th and 13th can only be seen if the cow has less than normal gut fill.

Individual spine and transverse processes cannot be seen, can only be felt with firm pressure, and feel rounded. Spaces between the processes are not visible and are only distinguishable with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tailhead are starting to fill. Hooks and pins are covered with a layer of fat, but still distinguishable. The cow exhibits a smooth appearance throughout. Ribs are fully covered and are not noticeable to the eye.

Hindquarters are plump and full. Noticeable springiness over the foreribs and on each side of the tailhead. Firm pressure is now required to feel the transverse processes. Fat deposition in the brisket is evident. The brisket is full, but not distended. Spinous and transverse processes are embedded in fat and can only be felt with very firm pressure. The topline is beginning to take on a square appearance. Spaces between processes can barely be distinguished. Abundant fat cover on either side of the tailhead with evident patchiness.

The cow's neck appears short and thick. Brisket is distended with fat. Animal takes on a square and blocky appearance over the topline and smooth along the sides. Bone structure cannot be seen anymore. The pins are embedded in fat on both sides of the tailhead. Matching feed supply and demand is an underpinning principle of pasture-based dairy farming in New Zealand. Animal management is a critical component of farm profitability and sustainability.

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Assessment of a cow's body condition score BCS gives a visual estimate of her body fat reserves. If the BCS of any animal falls below 3 on a scale of at any time, urgent action must be taken to improve condition. How well can you BCS? Are you as good as you think? Complete one of the interactive courses to test yourself. Managing body condition loss in early lactation is critical.

Understanding energy and nutrient requirements of cows is crucial to preparing your herd for mating. The spring BCS events have arrived, for dates and registration details click here. Condition score your dairy herd accurately and consistently by using this handy field guide for objective levels for animal measurement. DairyNz Business Business If you want more choice in your business, good money management is the bottom line.

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