Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring 9 Point System (Page 1)

Reduced animal performance is recognized in both over- and under-conditioned cattle. Body condition scoring (BCS) is an appraisal of the energy reserves (primarily associated with degree of fatness) of a beef animal. Several scales have been developed to score body condition; however, the most commonly used scale is based on a 1 to 9 scale with a body condition 1 indicating an emaciated animal and 9 indicating a very fat animal. The presentation presents images and descriptions of cattle differing in body condition and gives the viewer an opportunity to estimate body condition scores on a set of animals followed by a description of their body conditions.

Body Condition Scoring
What do I look for? Where do I look?

Image of a condition score 1 cow, emaciated. Visible bone structures are the shoulder, ribs and back. Hooks and pins are visible and sharp to the touch. There are very little muscling or fat deposits.

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

Condition Score 2 - Very Thin

Image of a condition score 2 cow, very thin. The spinous process should be easily seen and sharp to the touch. There should be some muscling in the hindquarters but very little fat deposits.

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

Condition Score 3 - Thin

Image of a condition score 3 cow, thin. The foreribs remain noticeable. The backbone is visible. The spinous process should be able to be felt with little pressure and have a less pronounced intervening space. Muscling is apparent. Fat deposits are beginning to cover the loin, back and foreribs.

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

Condition Score 4 - Borderline

Image of a condition score 4 cow, borderline. The foreribs are not noticeable. The twelfth and thirteenth ribs are noticeable. The transverse process should be able to be felt with slight pressure. Muscling is full by straight (not rounded). The ribs are beginning to be well covered with fat deposits.

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

Condition Score 5 - Moderate

Image of a condition score 5 cow, moderate. The twelfth and thirteenth ribs are not visible except in shrunk cattle. The transverse processes should be able to be felt with firm pressure. Muscling is full. The area around the tail head are filled out but not mounded.

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

Condition Score 6 - Good

Image of a condition score 6 cow, good. No distinct structure can be seen. The transverse processes should be able to be felt with firm pressure. The hindquarters are plump and full. The area over the foreribs and tail head are spongy.

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

Condition Score 7 - Very Good

Image of a condition score 7 cow, very good. No distinct structure can be seen. The ends of the spinous process felt with very firm pressure. The hindquarters are plump and full. There's abundant fat around the tail head with some patchiness.

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

Condition Score 8 - Fat

Image of a condition score 8 cow, fat. No distinct structure to none at all can be seen. The hindquarters are plump and full. The animal is thick and spongy and appears smooth and blocky.

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

Condition Score 9 - Very Fat

Image of a condition score 9 cow, very fat. Bone structure is not visible at all. The hindquarters are plump and full. The tail head is buried in fat.

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

Your Turn! The following images will allow the view the opportunity to evaluate body condition scores

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Beef Cattle Nutrition and Feeding Visual Learning Center Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring 9 Point System

Beef Cattle Nutrition and Feeding
Visual Learning Center
Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring 9 Point System