Body Condition Scoring as a Beef Management Tool Produced by John Fleming Madison Co. Young Farmer Advisor

EFFICIENT COW-CALF PRODUCTION MAINTAIN as CHEAPLY as POSSIBLE Obtain MAXIMUM REPRODUCTION Attain HIGH CALF WEANING WEIGHT

REALISTIC GOALS 90% CALVING RATE 500 lb. WEANING WEIGHT

+ or - 10 % Calving Rate

+ or - 20 % Calving Rate

Body Condition at Calving Affects : Length of time to first heat Lactation performance (weaning weights) Health & Vigor of calf Calving ease or difficulty Parasite & Disease susceptibility

Body Condition at Breeding Affects : Services per Conception Calving Interval Percent of Open Cows

BEEF CATTLE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS BODY MAINTAINENCE LACTATION GROWTH BREEDING FETAL DEVELOPMENT

LET’S KEEP IT SIMPLE Nutrient Surplus = Body Fat If Nutrient Requirements are greater than Available Feed Body Fat is Depleted NO BODY FAT = NO CALF

BODY CONDITION SCORING Accurate & Reliable Even If You Don’t Understand T.D.N. ? Metabolizable Energy? C.P.? C.F.? D.M. or As Fed?

BCS Body Condition Scoring BCS Body Condition Scoring BCS 1, 2, 3 Thin BCS 4, 5, 6 Moderate BCS 7, 8, 9 Fat

When to BCS ? 100 Days Before Calving 100 Days Before Calving At Calving At Calving At Weaning At Weaning

Why BCS ? 100 Days Before Calving 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.

Why BCS ? 100 Days Before Calving 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

Why BCS ? 100 Days Before Calving 100 Days Before Calving BCS Description Weight Change 7 Fleshy None 8 Fat lose 100 lbs. 9 Obese lose 150 lbs.

Other Reasons Why BCS ? Other Reasons Why BCS ? 100 Days Before Calving 100 Days 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 Much easier to increase condition before calving Decisions made now will affect next years calf crop

Why BCS ? At Calving At Calving To Determine Success of Feed Mgt. Program Breeding Season is just around the corner Body Condition is the major influence on fertility

Why BCS ? At Weaning At Weaning Sort into groups Easiest time to put weight on cattle Don’t waste money on those not in need

EFFECT of BODY CONDITION at CALVING 70 Days after Calving BCS Cycling Pregnant Thin % 24% Mod 4 38% 5 61% 6 83% Fat % 90% 90 Days after Calving Pregnant 35% 59% 81% 95% 98% 79%

SKELETAL STRUCTURE * BACKBONE *TAILBONE *HIPBONE *PINBONE *RIBS *BRISKET

B.C.S. 1 Extremely Thin All Skeletal Structures Visible No Muscle Tissue Evident No External Fat Present 350 lb Underweight

B.C.S. 2 Very Thin Skeletal Structures Visible Muscle Tissue Evident, Not Abundant No External Fat Present 280 lb Underweight

B.C.S. 3 Thin Upper Skeleton Prominent Muscle Tissue More Abundant Body Fat Not Obvious 210 lb Underweight

B.C.S. 4 Ribcage Backbone Junction less visible Hooks & Pins less obvious Muscle Tissue Abundant Fat beginning to cover Ribs 140 lb Underweight

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

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

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

B.C.S. 8 Too Fat Skeletal Structures Invisible Fat deposits are flattening rump Fat filling Brisket & over Shoulder 140 lb Overweight

B.C.S. 9 Obese Flat appearance dominates Heavy Brisket 210 lb Overweight

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Building for SUCCESS Consistent Scores Identify and Sort Into Groups Long Term Success Feed only those In Need Make Adjustments Before Calving Don’t let Records Collect Dust

Body Condition Scoring in Your Pocket May Put Extra