Nutrition
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| BCS 4 — Borderline condition. Outline of spine slightly visible. Outline of 3 to 5 ribs visible. Some fat over ribs and hips. |
Nutrition is a broad category involving metabolism of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and water. Nutritional status of the herd has a direct impact on production efficiency and immunity. Life–long nutritional factors also are important when considering the carcass characteristics of fed and non–fed cattle.
Body Condition Scores (BCS)
Proper cattle nutritional management includes utilizing BCS to monitor herd nutritional status. A target of BCS 5 or higher at calving is generally optimal for cow and calf health. Cows calving below a BCS 5 produce lower quality colostrum, and may have decreased milk production.
Calves born to these cows are slower to stand and nurse. They are more susceptible to cold, and nutritional stress that can mask the expression of immunity in cattle exposed to infectious pathogens.
Research indicates that the body condition of beef cows is related to many critical aspects of production such as conception rate, days to estrus, calving interval, and milk production. When cows are extremely thin (BCS < 4), they are not only reproductively inefficient, but they are more susceptible to health problems.
Research indicates that the body condition of a cow influences days to first estrus after calving and calving interval. A beef cow must conceive within 82 days of the birth of her calf to maintain a 12–month calving interval.
| Reference table for body condition scores | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Condition Scores | |||||||||
| Reference Point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Physically weak | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Muscle atrophy | yes | yes | slight | no | 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 |
| Outline of hip bones visible; | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | slight | no | no |
| Fat in brisket and flanks | no | no | no | no | no | some | full | full | extreme |
| Fat udder & patchy fat around tail head | no | no | no | no | no | no | slight | yes | extreme |
http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/674/body-condition-scoring-beef-cows
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Montana Beef Quality Assurance,
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