Cattle Body Condition Score

Farmbrite
Jun 10, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Feb 10

Cattle body condition scores (BCS) use a 9-point scale to describe the relative fatness of a steer or cow. It is an effective management tool to evaluate the nutritional and health status of your herd. To access cattle body condition scores, producers can use a number system to objectively describe the cattle's condition and fat reserves through a visual assessment. BCS provides an alternative to evaluate a herd’s health without weighing and measuring the animals directly which is closely related to reproductive efficiency and is often a more reliable indicator of nutritional status than only body weight.

How to calculate cattle body condition score

The following are key areas for evaluation for beef cows: backbone, ribs, hips, pin bones (pins), tailhead, and brisket.

The following is a description of the 1 to 9 body condition scoring system where a BCS 1 cow is extremely thin and emaciated and a BCS 9 cow is very fat and obese. Assign a cow a condition score in whole numbers (3, 4, 5, etc.).

Cow Body Condition Scoring Table

Group	BCS	Description
Emaciated	1	The bone structure of the shoulder, ribs, back, hooks, and pins are sharp to the touch and easily visible. No evidence of fat deposits or muscling
Very Thin	2	No evidence of fat deposition and there is muscle loss, especially in the hindquarters. The spinous processes feel sharp to the touch and are easily seen with space between them.
Thin	3	Very little fat cover over the loin, back, and fore ribs. The backbone is still highly visible. Processes of the spine can be identified individually by touch and may still be visible. Spaces between the processes are less pronounced. Muscle loss in the hind quarter.
Borderline	4	Foreribs are slightly noticeable and the 12th and 13th ribs are still very noticeable to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can be identified only by palpation (with slight pressure) and feel rounded rather than sharp. Slight muscle loss in the hind quarter.
Moderate	5	The 12th and 13th ribs are not visible to the eye unless the animal has been shrunk. The transverse spinous processes can only be felt with firm pressure and feel rounded but are not noticeable to the eye. Spaces between the processes are not visible and are only distinguishable with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tailhead are starting to fill.
Fleshy	6	Ribs are fully covered and are not noticeable to the eye. Hindquarters are plump and full. Noticeable springiness over the fore ribs and on each side of the tailhead. Firm pressure is now required to feel the transverse processes. Brisket has some fat.
Smooth	7	The ends of the spinous processes can only be felt with very firm pressure. Spaces between processes can barely be distinguished. Abundant fat cover on either side of the tailhead with evident patchiness. Fat in the brisket.
Fat	8	Animal takes on a smooth, blocky appearance. Bone structure disappears from sight. The fat cover is thick and spongy and patchiness is likely.
Very Fat	9	Bone structure is not seen or easily felt. The tailhead is buried in fat. The animal’s mobility may actually be impaired by excessive fat. Square appearance.

Visual description of key body locations for each body condition score:

Reference	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Physical weak	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Muscle atrophy(1)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Slight	No	No	No	No	No
Outline of spine visible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Slight	No	No	No	No	No
Outline of ribs visible	All	All	All	3-5	1-2	0	0	0	0
Fat in brisket and flanks	No	No	No	No	No	Some	Full	Full	Extreme
Outline of hip and bones visible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Slight	No	No	No	No
Patchy fat around tailhead	No	No	No	No	Slight	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

(1) Muscles of loin, rump, and hindquarter are concave, indicating loss of muscle tissue. Adapted from Pruit and Momont, South Dakota State University, 1988

What is the ideal body condition score for breeding cattle

Before breeding cows it is recommended that cows have a good condition score of 5 or higher and a body condition score of 6 or better at calving.

What is the target body condition score (BCS) for beef cattle?

Beef cattle should have a BCS between 5-7 for optimum health and wellness.

We hope this article has been helpful to learn more about calculating Body Condition Score in your cattle herd and calf cow operations. Below are some other free resources.

Finally, make sure that you are tracking the health and wellness of your cattle herd with cattle management software like Farmbrite. You can't manage what you don't measure. We offer you the best cattle record keeping software to keep your herd healthy and thriving.