Body Condition Scoring as a Tool for Dairy

Herd Management

Body condition scoring is a method of Body Condition Scoring Scale

evaluating fatness or thinness in cows
according to a five-point scale and using the Body condition scoring in dairy cattle is a visual and tactile
score to fine-tune dairy herd nutrition and evaluation of body fat reserves using a 5-point scale with
health. 0.25-point increments. Body condition scores (BCS) are an
indirect estimate of energy balance. A score of 1 denotes a
very thin cow, while 5 denotes an excessively fat cow, and 3 is
Introduction an average body condition. Evaluation focuses on the rump
and loin; landmarks used in assigning BCS are shown in
Body condition influences productivity, reproduction, health,
Figure 1. We have developed a video that presents a
and longevity of dairy cattle. Thinness or fatness can be a clue
step-by-step process for assigning BCS using a method that
to underlying nutritional deficiencies, health problems, or
produces accurate, consistent scores. Assessments of the same
improper herd management. If done on a regular basis, body
animal by different people should be within 0.25 points.
condition scoring can be used to troubleshoot problems and
Additional examples and descriptions of BCS across the range
improve the health, longevity, and productivity of the dairy
of the scale are presented in the BCS image gallery.
herd.
Overconditioning, or fatness, may result from poor nutrition or
reproduction management. A fat cow is more susceptible to
metabolic problems and infections, and is more likely to have
difficulty at and after calving. Overconditioning usually
begins during the last three to four months of lactation, when
milk production has decreased, but dietary energy and total
nutrient levels have not been reduced accordingly. Other
common causes of overconditioning are prolonged dry periods
or overfeeding during the dry period.
Underconditioning, or thinness, can frequently lower
production and milkfat levels because of insufficient energy
and protein reserves to maintain production. Thin cows often
do not show heat or conceive until they start to regainor at
least maintainbody weight. In feeding these animals, care
must be taken to maintain production while increasing body
reserves. Figure 1. Body condition scoring of dairy cows focuses on the
evaluation of the loin and rump. Major landmarks used in the
Body condition scoring is also useful in dairy heifer feeding scoring process are shown in these photos.
management. Thin heifers may not grow rapidly enough to
reach puberty by 11 to 13 months of age. They may also be
too small to calve at 22 to 24 months or to carry enough Related Research
weight to maintain a normal first lactation production. On the
Research demonstrates the classical relationship of body
other hand, fat heifers have been shown to be difficult to
condition to dry matter intake, milk production, reproduction,
breed, and if fat when they are near calving, have difficult
and health. Figure 2 shows the relationships between body
calving and produce less milk when they enter the milking
condition and the production cycle of dairy cows.
herd, especially if they have been fat at puberty.
 Reproduction
Energy balance plays a very important role in reproductive
performance, and both current and past energy status influence
a cows ability to reproduce. Greater change in BCS between
calving and first breeding and lower BCS at the first breeding
consistently are associated with reduced pregnancy rates.
However, multiple studies have found that diet changes were
not able to overcome BCS loss in early lactation, which means
that the primary way to control BCS at breeding is to manage
BCS at calving.
A Cornell study published in 1989 provides a good example of
Figure 2. Changes in body weight, dry matter intake, and milk
the impact of BCS on reproduction. In the study three groups
production over a single lactation.
of dry cows were monitored to determine the effect of body
condition during the dry period on subsequent reproductive
performance. Cows with the highest BCS at calving lost the
Dry Matter Intake most body condition in the first 5 weeks of lactation. These
Body condition score generally is negatively related to dry cows had a longer interval to first ovulation, a higher number
matter intake. This means that cows carrying excess condition of days to first heat and conception, and the lowest
before calving have a greater risk for low feed intake in the first-service conception rates (Table 1). Losing body condition
critical transition period around the time of calving. This can during early gestation has also been associated with increased
lead to loss of body condition and deepen the negative energy embryonic losses. For the farmer, these factors mean lost
balance cows experience after calving. Reduced dry matter dollars.
intake has obvious effects on milk production and can
contribute to ketosis, a displaced abomasum, or other Body
metabolic and production consequences of nutritional stress. Body Condition Body
Condition Loss 0.5 to Condition
Milk Production Item Loss < 0.5 1.0 Loss > 1.0
Mobilization of stored body fat provides a source of Means in a row with different superscripts differ P < 0.05
long-chain fatty acids for milk fat production and an energy Butler and Smith, 1989; Journal of Dairy Science
source for body tissues in early lactation. Often BCS and milk 72:767-783.
production curves are mirror images, with cows producing the
most milk experiencing the greatest change in body condition # Cows 17 64 12
and the lowest BCS in early lactation. However, the effect of BCS at
BCS on milk production is not a linear relationship. Cows Calving 3.7 4.1 4.5
with a BCS of 3.0 to 3.5 at calving produce more milk than
those calving either at a lower or higher score. This Days to first
relationship may be due to an increase in the energy available ovulation 27 a 31 a 42 b
from body stores up to a BCS of 3.5 and negative effects of Days to first
BCS on dry matter intake after that point. Cows can typically heat 48 ab 41 a 62 b
be expected to lose some condition score in the first 60 days
after calving. We now generally recommend that cows loose Days to first
as little BCS as possible after calving; no more than 0.5 to 1.0 service 68 a 67 a 79 b
point in score, with a maximum of 1.5 units of condition First service
score. The 2001 Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle conception
include calculations that describe how much milk production rate, % 65 a 53 a 17 b
can be supported by the mobilization of stored body fat. For
example, if a cow weighing 1433 pounds with a BCS of 4.0 at Services per
calving loses 1 BCS unit, 417 Mcal of NE L are produced. conception 1.8 2.3 2.3
This is enough energy to support 1,230 pounds of 4% Pregnancy
fat-corrected milk production. rate, % 94 95 100

Table 1. Relationship between BCS loss in first 5 weeks after

calving and reproduction.

Page 2 Body Condition Scoring as a Tool for Dairy Herd Management

 Health Stage of
Body condition at calving and in early lactation is associated Lactation DIM BCS Goal BCS Min BCS Max
with the incidence of important metabolic disorders in dairy Calving 0 3.50 3.25 3.75
cows, particularly ketosis. The risk of ketosis has been shown
to be two times greater for cows calving at BCS > 3.5 Early
compared to those calving at BCS 3.25, and the rate of both Lactation 1 to 30 3.00 2.75 3.25
clinical and subclinical ketosis is greater in cows with high Peak Milk 31 to 100 2.75 2.50 3.00
BCS. Milk fever may also be related to BCS. One study found
cows with BCS < 2.5 or > 3.5 were 13% or 30% respectively Mid
more likely to suffer milk fever than cows with BCS of 3.0. Lactation 101 to 200 3.00 2.75 3.25
Fat cows mobilize more energy from body reserves, which Late
tends to reduce dry matter intake and increase milk Lactation 201 to 300 3.25 3.00 3.75
production; both factors contribute to metabolic disease risk.
Dry Off > 300 3.50 3.25 3.75
Often, studies investigating the relationship between BCS and
health problems have reported inconsistent results. Metritis Dry - 60 to -1 3.50 3.25 3.75
risk tends to be increased in cows with low BCS or those that
lose body condition during the dry period. Cows losing Table 2. Suggested Body Condition Scores for Cows by Stage
condition during the dry period may have increased risk of of Lactation.
dystocia, and a New Zealand study of nearly 77,000 BCS
records from 1,172 cows found that the amount of body Calving to Peak Milk
weight lost between calving and conception affected the Cows should calve with adequate, but not excessive, body fat
proportion of cows that gave birth to male calves, which could reserves and a BCS between 3.25 and 3.75. Dry matter intake
increase the risk of dystocia due to size differences between should be managed closely for close-up and fresh cows to
male and female calves. Cows with high BCS at calving or limit negative energy balance in early lactation. The early
excessive loss of condition in early lactation have been shown lactation ration must encourage maximum intakes and provide
to be more likely to experience a displaced abomasum. adequate energy and protein levels to support peak milk
Retained placenta has been found to be more common in cows production and encourage a return to normal reproductive
with excess body condition. More recent research has cycles. Cows in early lactation enter a negative energy balance
determined that cows with BCS greater than 3.5 are more and mobilize body fat to support milk production. The amount
sensitive to oxidative stress and more likely to have of energy a cow can draw from her body reserves depends on
suppressed immune function, which likely contributes to her weight and body composition. High-producing cows can
increased disease risk in these cows. Lameness has been lose 100 to 150 pounds of body weight during the first 60 to
associated with both fat and thin cows. In cows that are 80 days of lactation. This is typically the equivalent of 1 BCS
overconditioned at dry-off, lameness may arise due to stress unit and occurs at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per day. If weight
from carrying extra weight or from reduced dry matter intake loss is higher (3 to 4 pounds per day), the risk of metabolic
at calving that leads to excessive BCS loss as lactation disorders and reduced fertility becomes higher. Mobilized
progresses. Cows with BCS < 2.0 are more likely to suffer body tissue can often support 1,000 to 1,300 pounds of 4%
from lameness, which is possibly due to a thinner digital fat-corrected milk production. The goal is to minimize weight
cushion that leads to greater incidence of sole ulcers and white loss by encouraging intake of high quality, highly palatable
line disease. forage dry matter at a rate of 1.8 to 2.0% of body weight per
day, with grain supplemented to support milk production.
Target Scores for Stages of Early lactation cows that are thin but not high producers are
Lactation not getting enough energy. Be sure that all nutrients are
balanced properly and that dry matter and water intakes are
Changes in body condition are to be expected as a cow moves adequate. Cows in early lactation with BCS > 3.25 and lower
through the stages of lactation and gestation (Table 2). For milk production than expected are likely not getting enough
most cows, BCS decreases from calving to about 100 days in protein. In addition, confirm that mineral, vitamin, and water
milk and then increases through dry-off. A few efficient, intakes are adequate.
high-producing cows may not experience large changes in
BCS, and some inefficient, low producing cows may
continually increase in BCS over a lactation. However, when
cows accumulate too much or too little condition or changes
occur too rapidly, health and performance can be affected.
Generally speaking, the goal is to manage body condition such
that the extremes of over- or underconditioning are avoided.
Nutritional strategies to manage body condition change as
cows progress through lactation.

Page 3 Body Condition Scoring as a Tool for Dairy Herd Management

 Mid-Lactation Heifers
After cows reach their peak milk production they should start Table 3 presents recommended BCS for heifers throughout the
replenishing body fat reserves, and it becomes more efficient rearing period. Feed balanced rations that provide adequate
to add body condition. If regaining body condition is delayed levels of all nutrients so that heifers can grow properly and
past 80 to 120 days, cows will often have reduced fertility. maintain BCS in a normal range. If young heifers are allowed
The nutritional program should encourage moderate weight to become too thin, they will not grow at the proper rate and
gain (0.75 to 1 pound per day) that will support milk may have reproductive problems that delay their first calving.
production and fertility, but avoid excessive weight gain. If Failure to provide adequate feed to older heifers may limit
cows have BCS > 3.25, energy intake should be reduced to their ability to support milk production. On the other hand,
avoid overconditioning. overconditioning of bred heifers can increase calving
difficulty and have negative repercussions on the health of
Late Lactation both the heifer and her calf. Overfeeding younger heifers,
particularly between weaning and puberty, leads to greater fat
Late lactation is the optimum time to manipulate body
infiltration of the mammary gland and increased breeding
condition. Cows should be in a positive energy balance and
difficulty. When these heifers freshen, they will not produce to
confirmed pregnant by this time, and changes in body
their full genetic potential.
condition can be made very efficiently. If cows have BCS <
3.0, increase energy intakes. Failure to replenish energy
Age BCS BCS BCS
reserves will limit milk production during the next lactation. If
Events (months) Goal Min Max
BCS exceeds 3.75, energy intakes are too high and should be
reduced to avoid excessive fattening. Extended calving 0 to 4 2.25 2.00 2.50
intervals may also contribute to high BCS in late lactation.
4 to 10 2.50 2.25 2.75
Dry Period Pre-Breeding 10 to 12 2.75 2.50 3.00
The goal of the dry period is to prepare cows for their next Breeding 12 to 15 3.00 2.50 3.25
lactation by maintaining body condition. Separate dry cows
Bred 15 to 20 3.25 3.00 3.50
from the milking herd and feed them a low energy ration with
adequate, but not excessive, protein, minerals, and vitamins. If Calving > 20 3.50 3.50 3.75
cows are too fat at dry-off (BCS > 3.75) it is best to keep them
from losing BCS during the dry period. Thin cows (BCS < Table 3. Suggested Body Condition Scores for Growing
3.0) may benefit from extra energy in the first three weeks of Heifers by Age in Months.
the dry period.
If cows consistently enter the dry period with BCS < 3.25, Troubleshooting
energy intake should be increased for cows in late lactation. If
cows are consistently at BCS > 3.75 at dry-off, reduce the Regular monitoring of BCS can be useful in tracking changes
energy intake late lactation cows and/or address issues over the lactation and in troubleshooting nutrition and health
contributing to extended calving intervals. problems in the herd. We have developed a simple spreadsheet
that may be used in tracking BCS over time and comparing
To keep dry cows in proper condition, ensure that forage dry cows or heifers to recommended BCS.
matter intake is a minimum of 1.8 to 2.0% of body weight per
day. Forage should provide 85 to 88% of the total ration dry Within a herd, we can expect a few cows, about 5 to 10% at
matter. If necessary, control feed intake to hold dry matter most, that either never put on much flesh or usually tend to be
intake to 2% of body weight. obese. Signals that body condition is not where it should be
may include an increase of 5 to 10% in the incidence of
metabolic diseases or a failure of cows to maintain lactation
persistency or peak at expected levels. When animals are not
in proper condition, the first thing to check is the feeding
program. Focus first on dry matter intake, especially of forage.
Forage should account for at least 45% of a cows total dry
matter intake. Determine that the feeding sequence, fiber
levels, feeding frequency, and ration palatability are in order.
If these items are adequate, evaluate protein, energy, mineral,
and vitamin levels in rations to be sure they are adequate. Test
forages and re-balancing rations for each group of cows as
needed. Be sure to analyze for bound protein in hay-crop
silages and adjust the ration accordingly. Examine feed
quality, including particle size of forage and grain, and smell
and pH of silages and wet commodity feeds.

Page 4 Body Condition Scoring as a Tool for Dairy Herd Management

 Check rations for amounts of bypass and soluble protein and Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is
committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants
for levels of starch, fats, and oils. Feed extra energy in early
without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
lactation to offset negative energy balance. Added fat from identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
oilseeds should comprise no more than 5% of total ration dry
The Pennsylvania State University 2016
matter. Rumen-protected (bypass) fats can provide an
additional 2% of ration dry matter. Total fat in the ration
should not exceed 7%. When oils and fats are added to the
ration, increase calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus by 10%
on a dry matter basis.
Once the cause of the problem has been determined, the next
step is to keep it from reoccurring. Avoid rapid fluctuations in
body condition. Pay close attention to cows during lactation,
especially the later part, and during the dry period. When large
amounts of forage are consumed or if grain is not fed properly,
animals may become overconditioned and are more
susceptible to health problems. In dry cow rations these
factors are more often overlooked.

Summary
Research demonstrates that a cows body condition relates to
her overall performance and that body condition scoring can
be an important tool in dairy herd management. In scoring a
cow, the tail head and loin are the major areas to evaluate.
Target scores help determine what condition to aim for during
the different stages of lactation. If done on a regular basis,
body condition scoring can improve dairy herd nutrition,
health, and production. Proper conditioning, then, can be
accomplished by body condition scoring, paying close
attention to the animals, and ensuring that their nutrient
requirements are being met, but not exceeded.

Contact Information
Jud Heinrichs
Professor of Dairy Science
[email protected]
814-863-3916

Coleen Jones
Research Associate
[email protected]
540-997-5809

Virginia A. Ishler
Extension Dairy Specialist
[email protected]
814-863-3912

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs

are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement
by Penn State Extension is implied.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Page 5 Body Condition Scoring as a Tool for Dairy Herd Management