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University of Wyoming Extension

 

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	3-Step Body Condition Scoring (BCS) for Range Cattle
	Publication #: B-1294 Date Published: 12/01/2016 Publication Author(s): J. Derek Scasta Scott Lake Tami Plechaty Hudson Hill

Description:
Body condition scores or BCS are a systematic approach to quantifying the energy reserves of beef cattle grazing on rangeland and pastureland.  Changes in these fat and muscle reserves are visually noticeable and are an indication of the nutritional status of the animal, rangeland forage conditions, and reproductive performance.  Key times to score cattle are prior to calving, prior to breeding, and at weaning.  This is often done 100 days before calving and 60 days before breeding.  Body condition of beef cattle are judged on a scale of 1-9 (with 1 being emaciated, 5 being ideal, and 9 being obese).  This 3-step guide is an easy to use and practical approach to determining body condition scores of cattle and will assist ranchers in making management decisions.

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