Cross Sectional view of BCS

Score 2

Body condition

• Poor

Tail head

• Cavity evident around tail head but less prominent.
• No fatty tissue felt between skin and pelvis, but skin is supple.

Loin

• Ends of short ribs are sharp to the touch, but individual ribs can no longer be seen.
• While bones are less prominent, they are still angular and can be easily distinguished by touch.

Score 3

Body condition

• Good

Tail head

• Slight cavity lined with fatty tissue apparent at tail head.
• Area between pins has smoothed out.

Loin

• Ends of short ribs can be felt with moderate pressure.
• Slight depression visible in loin area.
• Hooks and pins can be felt but have some covering of flesh.
• Hook, pin, and back bones have lost angularity and appear smooth.

Score 4

Body condition

• Fat

Tail head

• Depression between pins and tail head filling in.
• Patches of fat apparent under skin.
• Pelvis felt only with firm pressure.

Loin

• Short ribs cannot be felt even with firm pressure.
• No depression visible in loin between backbone and hip bones.
• Back and area between hooks and pins appear flat.

Score 5

Body condition

• Grossly Fat

Tail head

• Tail head buried in fatty tissue.
• Area between pins and tailbone rounded, skin distended.
• No part of pelvis felt, even with firm pressure.

Loin

• Folds of fatty tissue over short ribs.
• Bony structure cannot be felt.
• Hooks, pins, and backbone almost disappear.

Target Scores for Stages of Lactation

Below are target scores for each stage of lactation and hints for troubleshooting by altering rations and feeding strategies (adapted from Perkins et al., "Body Condition Scoring," New York Dairy Management Fact Sheet, 1985). Pluses and minuses indicate borderline body conditions.

Cows at Calving

Recommended score: 3+ to 4-
Nutritional objective: Allow cows to calve with adequate, but not excessive, body fat reserves.
Red flags:

• Scores below 3+ indicate that cows received an inadequate energy supply during late lactation and/or the dry period. Failure to replenish energy reserves will limit milk production during the upcoming lactation.
• Scores above 4- indicate that energy intake was too high during late lactation and/or the dry period. Separate dry cows from the milking herd and feed them a low-energy ration with adequate, but not excessive, protein, minerals, and vitamins.

Early Lactation

Recommended score: 3- to 3
Nutritional objective: Maximize intake of a high-energy ration to minimize changes in body condition and counteract negative energy balance. Ration must contain adequate protein to support peak milk production.
Red flags:

• Scores below 3-
  • Very high producers may drop to 2+ and are not a problem.
  • Thin cows that are not high producers are not getting enough energy. Be sure that all nutrients are balanced properly and that dry-matter and water intakes are adequate.
• Cows have good body condition (3 to 3+), but production is not as high as expected. Check for inadequate intakes of protein, minerals, or water.

Mid-Lactation

Recommended score: 3
Nutritional objective: Maintain body condition at this score to maximize milk production.
Red flags:

• Scores below 3 indicate that cows are receiving inadequate energy. Check early lactation ration, because problem began there.
• For scores above 3+, reduce energy intake to avoid over-conditioning.

Late Lactation

Recommended score: 3 -- Aim for 3+ to 4- at time of dry off.
Nutritional objectives:

• Replenish energy and fat reserves to prepare cow for next lactation.
• Avoid over-conditioning.

Red flags:

• Scores below 3+ at dry off mean cows are receiving inadequate energy. Check to see that early- and mid- lactation cows are receiving enough energy, since problem may have begun there.
• For scores above 4- at dry off, reduce energy intake during late lactation.

Dry

Recommended score: 3+ to 4-
Nutritional objectives:

• Maintain body condition in recommended range.
• Feed low-energy ration that provides adequate, but not excessive, amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Red flags:

• Scores below 3+
  • Increase energy intake. Inadequate body fat reserves can decrease milk production in upcoming lactation.
  • Increase energy content of late-lactation ration. Body fat reserves should be replaced at that time.
• Scores above 4-
  • Reduce energy intake of dry cows while maintaining adequate levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Reduce energy intake of late-lactation cows, because the problem may have begun there.

Heifers

Recommended score: 3- to 3+
Nutritional objectives:

• Maintain body condition in recommended range.
• Feed a balanced ration that provides adequate but not excessive amounts of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Red flags:

• Scores below 3- may indicate a nutritional problem. If heifers are allowed to become too thin, they will not grow at the proper rate and may have reproductive problems later on.
• Scores above 3+ have been shown to be associated with a greater fat infiltration in the mammary glands of heifers at puberty. When these heifers freshen, they will not produce to their full genetic potential

Table 4 summarizes dairy cow body condition scores and potential problems. By scoring cows on a regular basis, producers can adjust rations, determine group changes, maximize milk production, and prevent reproductive problems.

Table 4. Body condition scores for dairy cows.

Score	Condition
1	Skin and bones.
2 to 2- (low 2)a	Severe negative energy balance in cow in early lactation. A problem either exists or may be developing.
2+ (2 high)b	High producer in early lactation.
3	Milking cow in good nutrient balance.
3+ to 4-c	Late lactation dry cow in good condition.
4	Over-conditioned; an inefficient milk producer; a cow with an extremely long lactation if milking and a potential calving problem if dry.
5	Severely over-conditioned; a candidate for fat cow syndrome.
aBorderline 1. Indicates a potential problem. bBorderline 3. cBorderline 4. Check your feeding program to avoid a future problem