Condition Scorer
Body condition score tells you if an animal is too thin, just right or too fat. Pick the score that matches what you see and feel.
Feel along the backbone, ribs, hip bones and around the tail head. Score cattle and small ruminants on the same 1 to 5 scale.
Score 1: Very thin
What you see and feel
Backbone, ribs and hip bones stick out sharply. No fat can be felt anywhere. The animal looks weak.
What to do
Call a vet: check for worms, disease and teeth. Increase feed and protein straight away, and do not breed her.
Score 2: Thin
What you see and feel
Ribs and backbone are easy to see. Hip bones are prominent, with little fat cover.
What to do
Improve feeding over the next 6 to 8 weeks and deworm if needed. Thin females struggle to get pregnant.
Score 3: Good
What you see and feel
Ribs can be felt with light pressure but are hard to see. The back is smooth and the hip bones are rounded.
What to do
This is the target for most animals at mating and at birth. Keep feeding steady.
Score 4: Fat
What you see and feel
Ribs cannot be felt without firm pressure. Fat is building up around the tail head and brisket.
What to do
Reduce energy feed slowly, especially in dry or pregnant females, to avoid calving problems.
Score 5: Very fat
What you see and feel
The animal looks square and smooth. Bones cannot be felt, and fat bulges around the tail head.
What to do
Cut back the ration. Very fat animals have more birth difficulty, metabolic disease and poor fertility.
Target scores
| Animal and stage | Target score | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy cow at calving | 3 to 3.5 | Do not let her lose more than 1 point in early lactation. |
| Dairy cow at drying off | 3 to 3.5 | Adjust in late lactation, not in the dry period. |
| Beef cow at calving | 2.5 to 3 | Hold this score until she is back in calf. |
| Heifer at first mating | 3 | Aim for about 60% of adult weight as well. |
| Ewes and does at mating | 2.5 to 3 | “Flush” with better feed 2 to 3 weeks before mating. |
| Bulls, rams and bucks before mating | 3 to 3.5 | Thin males run out of energy; fat males are lazy. |
Scores are a guide for cattle, sheep and goats. Score the same animals regularly, and ask your vet if an animal stays thin despite good feeding.
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