By Scout Nelson
Cattle farmers utilize a technique called body condition score, which is similar to BMI in people, to determine an animal's nutritional health. In a recent Cattle Chat episode, experts from Kansas State University offered advice on this subject to novice and young ranchers.
K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster explains, "A body condition score is a producer’s way of visually assessing how much body fat, or flesh, a cow has."
Initially, this practice involved comparing weight to size, similar to BMI in humans. Over time, it evolved into a visual assessment, eliminating the need for weighing the animals.
Body condition scoring helps producers determine an animal’s nutritional health, particularly its reproductive functionality. Lancaster advises ranchers to focus on key anatomical structures, starting with the ribs. “Study their ribs,” he says. “Then ask yourself, ‘How many ribs are visible?’
K-State veterinarian Brad White suggests looking at the spine next. “Is that flesh on their back dipping down or coming straight across?”
Cattle showing multiple ribs and visible spinal processes often receive lower scores. Other factors include the hip and brisket areas. Lancaster adds, “Looking at an animal from behind, they should assess how much their hook and pin bones protrude.”
The scoring system ranges from 1 to 9, with 1 indicating emaciated cattle and 9 indicating obese cattle. In the pelvis region, Lancaster suggests examining the tail head. “If there is a nice indentation and no visible fat, the animal may be closer to a four,” he explains.
Rolls of fat around the tail head may indicate a score of six or seven, particularly if the cow is in production.
For those unfamiliar with this system, Lancaster and White recommend consulting the Guide to Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows and Bulls before making any management decisions.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: Kansas, General, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle