Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring 9 Point System

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Beef CattleBody Condition Scoring9 Point System
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Body Condition ScoringWhat do I look for? Where
do I look?
Hooks
Pins
Visible Bone Structure
Transverse Processes
Backbone/ Spinous Processes
Ribs - Foreribs - 12th 13th
Muscling
Fat Cover
Tail Head
Ribs
Body Fat
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Condition Score 1 Emaciated

• Visible Bone structure
• Shoulder
• Ribs
• Back
• Hooks
• Sharp to touch
• Pins
• Sharp to touch
• Muscling
• Very little
• Fat Deposits
• Very little

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Condition Score 2 Very Thin

• Visible Bone structure
• Spinous process easily seen
• Sharp to touch
• Muscling
• Some in
• hindquarters
• Fat Deposits
• Very little

5
Body Condition 3 Thin

• Visible Bone structure
• Foreribs remain noticeable
• Backbone visible
• Spinous process
• Palpate w/little pressure
• Less pronounced
• intervening space
• Muscling
• Muscling apparent
• Fat Deposits
• Beginning cover
• Loin, back, foreribs

6
Body Condition Score 4 Borderline

• Visible Bone structure
• Foreribs not noticeable
• 12th and 13th ribs noticeable
• Transverse process
• Felt with slight pressure
• Muscling
• Full but straight
• (not rounded)
• Fat Deposits
• Ribs beginning
• to be well covered

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Body Condition Score 5 Moderate

• Visible Bone structure
• 12th and 13th rib not visible except shrunk
  cattle
• Transverse processes felt w/firm pressure
• Muscling
• Full
• Fat Deposits
• Area around tail head filled out but not mounded

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Body Condition Score 6 Good

• Visible Bone structure
• No distinct structure
• Transverse processes felt w/firm pressure
• Muscling
• Hindquarters plump and full
• Fat Deposits
• Sponginess over foreribs
• Sponginess around tail head

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Body Condition Score 7 Very Good

• Visible Bone structure
• No distinct structure
• Ends of spinous process felt w/very firm pressure
• Muscling
• Hindquarters plump and full
• Fat Deposits
• Abundant fat around tail head w/some patchiness

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Body Condition Score 8 Fat

• Visible Bone structure
• No distinct structure to none
• Muscling
• Hindquarters plump and full
• Fat Deposits
• Thick and spongy
• Animal appears smooth and blocky

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Body Condition Score 9 Very Fat

• Visible Bone structure
• None
• Muscling
• Hindquarters plump and full
• Fat Deposits
• Tail head buried in fat

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Your Turn!
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Cow No. 1
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Cow No. 2
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Cow No. 3
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Cow No. 4
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Cow No. 5
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BCS 3 Thin
Apparent muscling
Foreribs noticeable - ruffling of around ribs
Backbone visible Spinous process palpated
w/little pressure
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BCS 2 Very Thin
Shoulder, backbone, ribs visible
Little muscling
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BCS 6 Good
Sponginess around tail- head
Fullness in Hindquarter
Sponginess over Foreribs
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BCS 8 Fat
No Distinct Bone Structure
Appears smooth and blocky
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BCS 5 Moderate
Transverse process felt with firm pressure
12th 13th rib not visible
Fullness of muscle
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How close were you?

• Experienced body condition scorers are generally
  within one body condition score of one another.
• Individuals with no experience generally are
  capable of repeating scores 68 of the time
  whereas, experienced scorers are capable of
  repeating scores 83 of the time.
• (Vizcarra and Wettemann. Prof Anim Sci, 1996)