Body condition scoring involves visually assessing and handling cows to determine their fat reserves based on a 1-5 point scale. It is conducted at key stages of lactation, including before drying off and calving, to ensure cows are in the ideal condition and fertility is not compromised. Regular scoring allows adjustments to feeding to maintain targets of 2.75-3 at calving and >2.5-2.75 at peak lactation, linking cow condition to milk production and reproductive health.

2. Body condition scoring involves the assessment of
the cow’s fat reserves through a combination of
handling the cow and visually assessing the level
of fat cover.

3. • Breeding soundness examination is a tool used to
adjust feeding and management practices in order
to maximize the potential for milk production and
minimise reproductive disorders.
• To compare the condition of cows with
recommended targets.
• To detect health problems in a herd.
• Is also conducted on behalf of intending vendors
and purchasers.

4. Two types of BCS
1. Whole herd basis : Done every 1-2 months
2. An individual cow: Done at the most important
stages of lactation.

5. The key stages of lactation to condition score an
individual cow includes
• two months before drying off
• during the dry period
• at monthly intervals in early lactation

6. Condition scoring at these stages helps to:
1. Allow the dairy farmers to make adjustments to
dairy cow rations to ensure that cows dry off
and calve in the ideal condition score.
2. Regular condition scoring in early lactation will
allow any excessive loss in body condition score
to be identified and corrected to ensure that
fertility performance is not compromised.

7. a. 1-5 point body condition scale: Most
commonly used system which allows each cow
to be given a body condition score on a scale
from 1 (extremely thin) to 5 (extremely fat) in
increments of 0.5 condition score units.
1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0
b. 1-8 point body condition scale: Not commonly
used system.

8. • Body condition scoring is a simple process carried
out in the paddock or dairy
Stand directly behind the cow to score
Cows should be first visually scored
Secondly by handling the backbone,
loin and rump areas.

9. Press the fingertips against the backbone, pin bone
and hip bone which provide a good indication of
the amount of fat cover
A thorough examination of the female animal and
her reproductive tract should be done for
breeding purpose or sometimes prior to each
breeding season.
Finally record in a booklet or data base system

10. Since the pin bone, hip bone, the top of the backbone and ends of the short ribs do not have
muscle tissue covering them, any covering you see or feel is the combination of skin and fat
deposits.

11. Fig: Key areas for the assessment of body fat cover when body condition scoring

18. BCS 1 BCS 2 BCS 3
BCS 4 BCS 5

19. BCS 1
BCS 5
BCS 4
BCS 2 BCS 3

20. The target condition scores at the key stages of
lactation are:
• Calving 2.75 to 3.0
• Service/ at peak lactation > 2.5 to 2.75
• Drying off (7–8 weeks pre-calving) 2.75 to 3.0

21. This technique links together three major factors