Maximizing Fall and Winter Grazing of Beef Cows and Stocker Cattle

Bulletin 872-98

Cow Nutrition and Body Condition

Most reproductive failures in beef females can be attributed to improper nutrition and thin body condition. Monitor the effectiveness of the nutrition program in the long-term by herd performance records but in the short-term, by keeping an eye on the flesh or body condition score (BCS) of the cows.

Table 11. When To Evaluate BCS

1. Mid-summer
2. Weaning
3. 60 days before calving
4. Calving
5. Beginning of the breeding season

The cow's priorities for nutrition are maintenance, lactation, growth (young females), and reproduction. Consequently, reproduction is the first to go and the last to return in cases of inadequate nutrition.

The nutrition level pre- and post-calving affects the conception rate of the subsequent breeding seasons. Cows that are thin prior to calving will have a delayed onset of estrus. Thin cows after calving will have reduced conception rates.

Obesity is a problem in heifers that become fat during the growing phase. Fat heifers normally have lower than average reproductive rates. It is less serious in mature cows. However, obesity is uneconomical since fat cows are more expensive to maintain. Ohio State University Extension has a fact sheet with pictures corresponding to the body-condition scores (Mangione, 1992).

Immature cows continue to grow until approximately four years of age. These young cows should be maintained through the yearly cycle about one BCS higher than mature cows to achieve the same reproductive performance.

Body-condition changes are a more reliable guide than body-weight changes for evaluating the day-to-day nutrition status of a beef cow. Body-condition scoring also has an advantage over body weight in that scales or corrals are not needed.

The scoring system currently advocated is outlined in Table 12 on the following page. The important thing in scoring is to be consistent. You may not fully agree with everyone who scores the cows, but the relative distribution of cows within the herd can be measured.

Table 12. Body Condition Scoring (BCS) System for Beef Cattle

1. EMACIATED: Starving and weak. No palpable fat detectable over back, hip bones, or ribs. Tail-head and ribs project quite prominently.

2. POOR: Poor milk production and reproduction. Chances of rebreeding slim. Cow still emaciated but tail-head and ribs less prominent. Backbone is still rather sharp to the touch but some tissue exists along the backbone.

3. THIN: Poor milk production and reproduction. Ribs are still individually identifiable but not quite as sharp to the touch. Obvious palpable fat along the spine and over the tail-head with some tissue over top portion of the ribs.

4. BORDERLINE: Reproduction bordering on inadequate. Individual ribs no longer visually obvious. Individual spines can be identified on palpation but feel rounded, rather than sharp. Some fat cover over ribs and hip bones.

5. MODERATE: Minimum necessary for efficient rebreeding and good milk production. Cow has generally good overall appearance. Upon palpation, fat cover over ribs feels spongy and the area on either side of the tail-head now has palpable fat cover.

6. OPTIMUM: Milk production and rebreeding very acceptable. Firm pressure now has to be applied to Feel spinous processes. A high degree of fat is palpable over the ribs and around the tail-head.

7. GOOD: Maximum condition needed for efficient reproduction. Cow appears fleshy and obviously carries considerable fat. Very spongy fat cover over the ribs and around the tail-head. Some fat around vulva and crotch.

8. FAT: Very fleshy. No advantage in having the cow in this condition. Backbone almost impossible to palpate. Cow has larger fat deposits over ribs, around tail-head, and below vulva.

9. EXTREMELY FAT: The fat may cause calving problems. Cow extremely wasty and patchy. Tail-head and hips buried in fatty tissue. Bone structure no longer visible and barely palpable. Animal's mobility may be impaired by fat deposits.