Body Condition Scoring

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Body Condition Scoring

• as a Beef Management Tool
• Produced by John Fleming
  Madison Co. Young Farmer Advisor

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EFFICIENT COW-CALF PRODUCTION

• MAINTAIN as CHEAPLY as POSSIBLE
• Obtain MAXIMUM REPRODUCTION
• Attain HIGH CALF WEANING WEIGHT

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REALISTIC GOALS

• 90 CALVING RATE
• 500 lb. WEANING WEIGHT

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or - 10 Calving Rate
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or - 20 Calving Rate

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Body Conditionat CalvingAffects

• Length of time to first heat
• Lactation performance (weaning weights)
• Health Vigor of calf
• Calving ease or difficulty
• Parasite Disease susceptibility

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Body Conditionat BreedingAffects

• Services per Conception
• Calving Interval
• Percent of Open Cows

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BEEF CATTLE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

• BODY MAINTAINENCE
• LACTATION
• GROWTH
• BREEDING
• FETAL DEVELOPMENT

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LETS KEEP IT SIMPLE

• Nutrient Surplus Body Fat
• If Nutrient Requirements are greater
  than Available Feed
• Body Fat is Depleted
• NO BODY FAT NO CALF

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BODY CONDITION SCORING

• Accurate Reliable
• Even If You Dont Understand
• T.D.N. ?
• Metabolizable Energy?
• C.P.?
• C.F.?
• D.M. or As Fed?

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BCS
Body Condition Scoring

• BCS 1, 2, 3 Thin
• BCS 4, 5, 6 Moderate
• BCS 7, 8, 9 Fat

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When to BCS ?
100 Days Before Calving
At Calving
At Weaning
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Why BCS ?
100 Days Before Calving
BCS Description Weight Change
1 Emaciated gain 350
lbs. 2 Very Thin gain
300 350 lbs. 3 Thin
gain 200 300 lbs.

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Why BCS ?
100 Days Before Calving
BCS Description Weight Change 4
Borderline gain 150 200 lbs.
5 Moderate gain 100 150
lbs. 6 Good gain
wt. of fetus
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Why BCS ?
100 Days Before Calving
BCS Description Weight Change 7
Fleshy None 8
Fat lose 100 lbs.
9 Obese lose 150 lbs.
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Other Reasons Why BCS ?
100 Days Before Calving
Decisions made now will affect next years calf
crop
Much easier to increase condition before calving
Less than BCS 4 longer time before first
heat
More than BCS 6 (for mature cows)
BCS 7 (for young cows 2 4 yrs.)
Higher Cost more calving problems lower
weaning weights
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Why BCS ?
Body Condition is the major influence on fertility
At Calving
To Determine Success of Feed Mgt. Program
Breeding Season is just around the corner
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Why BCS ?
Sort into groups
Easiest time to put weight on cattle
Dont waste money on those not in need
At Weaning
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EFFECT of BODY CONDITION at CALVING

• 70 Days after Calving
• BCS Cycling Pregnant
• Thin
• 1-2-3 55 24
• Mod
• 4 38
• 5 61
• 6 83
• Fat
• 7-8-9 96 90

• 90 Days after Calving
• Pregnant
• 35
• 59
• 81
• 95
• 98

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SKELETAL STRUCTURE

• BACKBONE TAILBONE HIPBONE PINBONE RIBS
  BRISKET

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B.C.S. 1

• Extremely Thin
• All Skeletal Structures Visible
• No Muscle Tissue Evident
• No External Fat Present
• 350 lb Underweight

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B.C.S. 2

• Very Thin
• Skeletal Structures Visible
• Muscle Tissue Evident, Not Abundant
• No External Fat Present
• 280 lb Underweight

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B.C.S. 3

• Thin
• Upper Skeleton Prominent
• Muscle Tissue More Abundant
• Body Fat Not Obvious
• 210 lb Underweight

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B.C.S. 4

• Ribcage Backbone Junction less visible
• Hooks Pins less obvious
• Muscle Tissue Abundant
• Fat beginning to cover Ribs
• 140 lb Underweight

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B.C.S. 5

• Med. Flesh for Calving
• Ideal Flesh at Weaning
• Ribcage Slightly Visible
• Hooks Pins not obvious
• Fat Deposit behind Shoulder noticeable
• Ribs Slightly Covered
• Muscle Tissue nearing Maximum
• 70 lb Underweight

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B.C.S. 6

• Ideal Flesh at Calving
• Ribcage barely visible
• Hooks pins less prominent
• Muscle Tissue at Maximum
• Fat Deposit behind shoulder Obvious
• Ribs Covered completely, beginning to
  cover Rump
• Ideal Weight for Frame Size

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B.C.S. 7

• Slightly Too Fat for Efficient Production
• Skeletal Structure difficult to identify
• Fat Deposits behind shoulder at tailhead
  obvious
• Flat Appearance beginning to dominate topline
• 70 lb Overweight

Heifers
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B.C.S. 8

• Too Fat
• Skeletal Structures Invisible
• Fat deposits are flattening rump
• Fat filling Brisket over Shoulder
• 140 lb Overweight

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B.C.S. 9

• Obese
• Flat appearance dominates
• Heavy Brisket
• 210 lb Overweight

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B.C.S. 2
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B.C.S. 3
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B.C.S. 2
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B.C.S. 4
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 4
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 7
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 7
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B.C.S. 7
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B.C.S. 6
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B.C.S. 5
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B.C.S. 8
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B.C.S. 9
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Building for SUCCESS
Long Term Success
Feed only those In Need
Make Adjustments Before Calving
Consistent Scores
Identify and Sort Into Groups
Dont let Records Collect Dust
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Body Condition Scoring

May Put Extra
in Your Pocket