Body Condition Scoring (BCS) in Beef Cattle
October 10, 2023
Body condition scores are a vital part of successful fertility management on beef units. These techniques are ways of managing body condition score changes throughout the year if required:
- House later if grass growth and quality has been good in the summer and a decrease in BCS is required
- Wean calves later if a decrease in BCS is required
- Increase straw in the ration, costs allowing, to decrease ME of ration and prevent excessive BCS gain during winter housing
- Manage thin cows and heifers as a single group requiring extra energy to allow accurately targeted feeding
During winter housing feeding 1kg of barley/day will equate to a gain in BCS of approximately ½ unit body condition score
During summer wean calves earlier if thin or a heifer; weaning 1 month earlier will equate to a gain in BCS of ¼ unit if pasture quality is good.
If you would like to know more about Body Condition Scoring please contact our farm team.