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Beef Breeder MANUAL
Body Condition Score Classiication A body condition score of nil indicates a severely
emaciated animal while a change to BCS of ive is grossly obese. A diference of one BCS may relect a
liveweight diference of as much as 60kg. Descriptions of the BCS scale are as follows:
Welfare Implications of the Body Condition Score Monitoring BCS throughout the year enables producers
to gain an accurate picture of the nutrition and health of the herd as seasonal conditions, feed quality and
availability, and animal physiology change. Importantly, body condition and body condition change should
be used as a trigger for implementing diferent managements for either individual animals or mobs
when required, based on current and past condition measurements.
In particular, cattle that fall within the low range of body condition, and those that sit at the highest condition
score trigger additional concern when it comes to certain management activities Table 4.1. Where animals
in the herd are identiied with scores in these ranges, the manager must initiate appropriate management
responses to move the animals towards a better body condition.
Alternatively, and particularly for cattle with very low body condition, if mob-based feed and health management
solutions are not readily available or able to be implemented, consideration must be given to remove
the animals from the herd for individual management, or if in very poor condition, humane slaughter procedures
should be implemented see Section 4.2.6.
4.1.2. How to Recognise Sick Animals
It is important that producers quickly recognise animals that are showing signs that they are sick. Some of the
common signs that animals are not well include; a disinterest in things happening around them, they stand
alone with their heads down away from other animals, or are seen lying down and reluctant to rise. Other
indicators include sunken eyes, rough coat, or a stifness or lameness when trying to walk Fig. 4.4.
0. Short ribs very prominent and easy to see individually, muscle
wastage obvious over whole body, tail bones easily felt, rump and leg
muscles deeply concave, lacking energy and unresponsive
1. The individual processes are sharp to the touch, no fat at the head
of the tail. Hip bones and ribs are prominent
2. The individual processes can be felt easily, but feel rounded rather than
sharp. There is some tissue cover around the tail head. Individual ribs
are no longer visually obvious 3. The short ribs can be felt only with
irm thumb pressure. Areas either side of the tail head have fat cover
which can be felt easily 4. The processes cannot be felt and
fat cover around the tail head is easily seen as slight mounds, soft to
touch. Folds of fat are beginning to develop over the ribs and thighs
5. The bone structure of the animal is no longer noticeable and the tail
head is almost completely buried in fatty tissue.
These classiications are described in more detail and illustrated in
TECHNICAL NOTE 4 - Body Condition Scoring Beef Cattle.
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Cold Winter Climates
Figure 4.4. Recognise the signs of a sick or malnourished animal.
Body Condition Score
Welfare Management
High risk Weak with no body reserves
At risk of death from cold, wet weather or other stresses.
Recovery dependent on high quality care and will be slow.
Unable to be transported without prolonged intensive management.
1 At risk
Signiicant muscle utilisation and may be weak
Able to recover for transport with adequate care. High level of management required.
Unlikely can be transported without feeding and rest.
2 Of concern
Lean but strong with evident muscle utilisation
Management intervention required. May be able to be transported if strong and dependent
on journey and prevailing conditions. Limit on length of trip.
3 No concern
Ideal minimum target for females at calving. 4
No concern Ideal maximum target for breeding.
5 At risk if travelling long
distances May be too fat for joining heifers and some cows.
Can be transported if heat load is not excessive.
Table 4.1. Welfare implications of cattle with varying body condition score.
Source: A National Guide to Describing and Managing Beef Cattle in Low Body Condition, Meat and Livestock Australia 2013.
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Beef Breeder MANUAL
3 General Behaviour - Are all the animals behaving normally? If some
animals are standing on their own and look hollow or have their heads
down in an unusual way, these are signs that something is wrong.
3 Eating - The animal is not eating or is not eating enough. Is there
something wrong with the feed or the animal?
3 Breathing - Abnormal breathing may include short rapid breathing
or heavy slow diicult breathing. This could be caused by heat stress,
a fever, a disease or an internal infection.
3 Drinking - Are all the animals getting enough water to drink? Do
they look dehydrated eyes appear sunken, the coat is dry and dull
and do they keep standing around the water trough? If so, is the water
clean or is there something in the water they do not like?
3 Manure - If the dung is very watery or dry and hard it is a good
indication of a nutritional imbalance or deiciency, or a disease problem.
3 Discharges - Discharges from the eyes, mouth, nose, vagina or anus
generally indicate a disease or infection that needs to be treated.
4.1.3. Healthy Animal Behaviour
