Assignment Topic:Assignment Topic:“ “ Body condition scoring and estimation of Body condition scoring and estimation of

live weight”live weight”Submitted to:Submitted to: Dr M.Tahir RiazDr M.Tahir RiazSubmitted by: Submitted by: Qasim Mashood (18)Qasim Mashood (18) DVM 2010-2015 semester eveningDVM 2010-2015 semester evening UCV&ASUCV&AS

Selection of AnimalsSelection of AnimalsFollowing characteristics of a good breed:Following characteristics of a good breed:Attain maturity at early age Attain maturity at early age Show First calving & lactation at early ageShow First calving & lactation at early ageMore production per lactationMore production per lactationLess calving intervalLess calving intervalShort dry periodShort dry periodShort service periodShort service period Better FCRBetter FCR

Body Condition Scoring Body Condition Scoring (BCS)(BCS)

Body condition Body condition is the amount of is the amount of musclemuscle and and fatfat covering the cow, covering the cow, hence the body reserves available to hence the body reserves available to provide additional nutrients for milk provide additional nutrients for milk production and efficient reproductionproduction and efficient reproduction

There are 1-5 BCS and 5 key areas on There are 1-5 BCS and 5 key areas on the body regions of cows that need to the body regions of cows that need to be assessed.be assessed.

Goals of Body Condition Goals of Body Condition ScoringScoring

Early detection of potential health Early detection of potential health problemsproblems

Identify areas for improved feeding Identify areas for improved feeding management (management (FatnessFatness or or thinessthiness))

Improve herd health, production, Improve herd health, production, reproduction, profitabilityreproduction, profitability

Five Body Areas to Five Body Areas to EvaluateEvaluate

Side ViewSide View

Pins

Thurl

Hooks

Rear ViewRear View

Pins

Thurl

Hooks

Short Ribs

Tailhead Ligament

Sacral Ligament

(Short Ribs)

(Spinous Process)

If an animal is grossly fat, the bone structure cannot be seen or felt through the fat. In thin animals, the bone structures are very prominent.

BCS ScaleBCS Scale Scale of 1 to 5, increments of 0.25Scale of 1 to 5, increments of 0.25

BCS 1 = emaciated cow (too thin) BCS 1 = emaciated cow (too thin) BCS 3 = average body conditionBCS 3 = average body condition BCS 5 = excessively fat cowBCS 5 = excessively fat cow

Step-by-Step ProcessStep-by-Step Process See “Learn to Score Body Condition” See “Learn to Score Body Condition”

presentation from Penn Statepresentation from Penn State Not a perfect scienceNot a perfect science

Scores should be similar (Scores should be similar ( 0.25) 0.25) When measured on one animal or When measured on one animal or When measured by different peopleWhen measured by different people

Separates average condition from Separates average condition from extremesextremes

Extremely Fat Extremely Thin

Examples of ScoresExamples of ScoresPresented to help you see the major differences – Presented to help you see the major differences –

for a more detailed system of scoring, seefor a more detailed system of scoring, see “Learn to Score Body Condition” “Learn to Score Body Condition”

Side viewSide view Bones of tailhead easy to seeBones of tailhead easy to see Prominent backboneProminent backbone Tips of short ribs are clearly visible Tips of short ribs are clearly visible Hooks, thurl, and pins very prominentHooks, thurl, and pins very prominent

BCS 1: Severely Under-BCS 1: Severely Under-conditionedconditioned

All boney prominences All boney prominences easily visible easily visible

Hooks, pins, spine, & ribs Hooks, pins, spine, & ribs very sharpvery sharp

Deep cavities around Deep cavities around tailheadtailhead

Thin legs, poor muscle Thin legs, poor muscle conditioncondition

BCS 1BCS 1

BCS 2:BCS 2: Severe Negative Energy Severe Negative Energy BalanceBalance

Tailhead prominent, limited skin cover Tailhead prominent, limited skin cover Prominent backboneProminent backbone Limited skin cover on short ribs. From Limited skin cover on short ribs. From

tip to spine, short ribs are visible ¾ of tip to spine, short ribs are visible ¾ of the distancethe distance

Angular hooks and pins with Angular hooks and pins with prominent thurlprominent thurl

Hooks, pins, & Hooks, pins, & thurl prominentthurl prominent

Tailhead area Tailhead area somewhat somewhat hollow, but has hollow, but has modest covering modest covering of fleshof flesh

BCS 2BCS 2

BCS 2.75BCS 2.75: Slightly Thin: Slightly Thin

Visible backbone Visible backbone Tip of short ribs smooth, but visibleTip of short ribs smooth, but visible Hooks angular, but pins padded by Hooks angular, but pins padded by

fatfat V-angle formed between hooks, V-angle formed between hooks,

thurl, and pinsthurl, and pins

Hooks angular, but Hooks angular, but pins more pins more rounded or padded rounded or padded with fatwith fat

Hollow below Hollow below tailhead compared tailhead compared to a BCS 3to a BCS 3

BCS 2.75BCS 2.75

BCS 3BCS 3: Good Condition: Good Condition

More flesh covering backboneMore flesh covering backbone Tip of short ribs smoothTip of short ribs smooth Hooks and pins rounded and smoothHooks and pins rounded and smooth V-angle formed between hooks, V-angle formed between hooks,

thurl, and pinsthurl, and pins

Hooks and pins Hooks and pins rounded rounded

No deep No deep depressions or fat depressions or fat deposits around deposits around tailheadtailhead

BCS 3BCS 3

BCS 3.25BCS 3.25: Slightly Fleshy: Slightly Fleshy

More flesh covering backboneMore flesh covering backbone Tip of short ribs very smoothTip of short ribs very smooth Hooks and pins more rounded and Hooks and pins more rounded and

smoothsmooth U-angle formed between hooks, U-angle formed between hooks,

thurl, and pinsthurl, and pins

Rounded hooks & Rounded hooks & pinspins

Sacral and Sacral and tailhead ligaments tailhead ligaments visiblevisible

BCS 3.25BCS 3.25

BCS 4BCS 4: Over-conditioned: Over-conditioned

Backbone barely visibleBackbone barely visible Short ribs very smooth, tips barely Short ribs very smooth, tips barely

visiblevisible Hooks and pins very smooth, but Hooks and pins very smooth, but

visiblevisible Flat between hooks and pinsFlat between hooks and pins

Hooks & pins Hooks & pins rounded, but visiblerounded, but visible

Rump and thurl flatRump and thurl flat Sacral and tailhead Sacral and tailhead

ligaments not visibleligaments not visible

BCS 4BCS 4

BCS 5: Severely Over-BCS 5: Severely Over-conditionedconditioned

Backbone not visibleBackbone not visible Short ribs flat, bones not visibleShort ribs flat, bones not visible Hooks and pins not visibleHooks and pins not visible Flat over rump and tailheadFlat over rump and tailhead

All boney All boney prominences prominences rounded and rounded and covered in fatcovered in fat

Tailhead buried in Tailhead buried in fatfat

Fat deposits readily Fat deposits readily seen on rump and seen on rump and legslegs

BCS 5BCS 5

SummarySummary

Ranges of Ideal Body Condition Ranges of Ideal Body Condition ScoresScores

stage score

Drying off 3.5-4.0

Calving (older cows) 3.5-4.0

One month postpartum

2.5-3.0

Mid lactation 3.0

Late lactation 3.25-3.75

Calving (first lactation)

3.5

Live body weight estimation of Live body weight estimation of goatgoat

Formula 1:Formula 1: W=(G + L)2W=(G + L)2/X/XWhere;Where; W= Live weight of goat in lbs L= Length in inchesW= Live weight of goat in lbs L= Length in inches X= 17.0 when girth ranges from 15-19 inchesX= 17.0 when girth ranges from 15-19 inches X= 13.5 when girth ranges from 20-25 inchesX= 13.5 when girth ranges from 20-25 inches X= 12.0 when girth ranges from 25 inchesX= 12.0 when girth ranges from 25 inches

Formula 2:Formula 2: Weight in lbs. = Heart Girth2 X Body Weight in lbs. = Heart Girth2 X Body

Length ÷ 300Length ÷ 300

Live body weight estimation of Live body weight estimation of cattle/buffalocattle/buffalo

Formula:Formula: HEART GIRTH x HEART GIRTH x BODY LENGTH / 300 HEART GIRTH x HEART GIRTH x BODY LENGTH / 300

= ANIMAL WEIGHT IN POUNDS= ANIMAL WEIGHT IN POUNDS

For example, if a beef cow has a heart For example, if a beef cow has a heart girth equal to 70 inches and a body girth equal to 70 inches and a body length equal to 78 inches, the length equal to 78 inches, the calculation would be (70 x 70 x 78) / calculation would be (70 x 70 x 78) / 300 = 1,274 lbs.300 = 1,274 lbs.

Live body weight estimation of Live body weight estimation of horsehorse

(Heart girth x Heart girth x Body (Heart girth x Heart girth x Body length)/330 = Wt (lbs)length)/330 = Wt (lbs)

Thanks…Thanks…