Body condition scoring (BCS)

What is body condition scoring (BCS)?

BCS was developed around 20 years ago and is widely 1
accepted as a practical means of assessing the impact of
negative energy balance in early lactation. Scores range
from 1 to 5 in increments of 0.25.
This system concentrates on the accurate determination
2 3
of scores between 2.0 and 4.0 as these are the most
critical for management decisions. Scores outside these
values are extreme; those below 2.0 are seriously
underconditioned and require immediate attention, as do
those at 4.0 and above which are overconditioned and 4
require controlled weight loss.
Scorers using this system will be able to assign BCS
consistently and accurately.
6
When to condition score 3
The change in body condition score is more important
4 5
than the absolute value, therefore scoring should be
undertaken regularly. A good routine involves scoring:

Stage of lactation Target BCS

At calving 2.5–3.0

60 days post-calving 2.0–2.5

100 days before drying off 2.5–3.0

At drying off 2.5–3.0

Further information on how to body condition score 1. Sacral ligament 2. Tailhead ligament
can be found on the AHDB website, including a short 3. Pins 4. Thurl 5. Short ribs 6. Hooks
training video.

Assess the angle between

1 the hooks and pins.
● The first decision you make
will divide cows into two
groups: those with a BCS
less than or equal to 3, and
those with a BCS greater
than 3
● This decision may be the
most difficult one in the BCS
process, especially if the cow
is near a 3.0 or 3.25 BCS
V – angle has a BCS less than or equal to 3. U – angle has a BCS greater than 3.
Follow the orange steps. Follow the green steps.
BCS less than or equal to 3 BCS greater than 3

2 Standing at the rear of the cow, assess whether

the hooks are rounded or angular. 2 Standing at the rear of the cow, assess
whether both the sacral and tailhead
ligaments are fully visible.

1. Sacral ligament 2. Tailhead ligament

1 2

Rounded hooks: Angular hooks:

● BCS = 3.0 ● BCS = 2.75 or less

3 Refine the score

‘2.75 or less’ by
evaluating the pins.
Sacral visible. Tailhead visible.
Both ligaments easily seen. BCS = 3.25

Padded pins:
● BCS = 2.75
3 Continue to assess the visibility of the
ligaments. The tailhead ligament will
Now we need to feel the pins to assess the become covered in fat first.
4 presence of a palpable fat pad (one that is not
visible to the eye but can be felt) to refine the 1. Sacral ligament 2. Tailhead ligament
score of ‘2.5 or less’.
1 2

Palpable fat pad on pins: No fat pad on pins:

● Fat pad present ● No Fat pad present
● BCS = 2.5 ● BCS = 2.25 or less
Sacral visible. Tailhead barely visible.
Evaluate the visibility of the short ribs: Tailhead ligament partly covered in fat. BCS = 3.50

5 • Look for the bony ridges of the short ribs

The tailhead is now completely covered.
• Estimate the distance these ridges are easily
seen from the tip of the short ribs to the spine 4 Assess the visibility of the sacral ligament
to determine a score of 3.75 or 4.0 or more.
• Are the ridges visible half of the distance,
three-quarters of the distance, or more? ● Sacral barely visible
● Tailhead not visible
● Neither ligament easily seen
● BCS = 3.75

● Sacral not visible

● Tailhead not visible
● Neither ligament visible
● Will score 4.0 or more

● Ribs visible halfway to the spine ● Ribs visible three-quarters of

● BCS = 2.25 the distance to the spine ● All bony prominences
● BCS = 2.0 rounded and covered in fat
● Tailhead buried in fat

6 Cows with sawtooth spine and ribs are severely

underconditioned and will score less than 2.0.
●

●
Fat deposits readily seen on
rump and legs
BCS = 5.0
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