Importance of Body Condition Scoring Your Cattle

Most ranchers wouldn’t argue the the importance of assessing your cattle’s individual Body Condition Score, however, like many things we know is important to do like wills, or knowing the cost of your production — often times Body Condition Scores are not ever done or written done.
Washington State University Northwest Regional Dairy and Livestock Specialist Dr. Susan Kerr reminds ranchers of the why behind scoring your cattle.
Kerr: “The Body Condition Score is related to reproductive success — especially how well cows come back into heat after calving and getting them bred again. It is also associated with their calf’s vigor and their calf’s weaning weight. And their colostrum quality and quantity and the overall health and disease resistance of the cow and her calf.”
The good news is now is a great time to go out and Body Condition Score your cows as Dr. Kerr explains.
Kerr: “The best and most economical time to time to add condition to thin cattle is the time between weaning and calving. They are not lactating, they have their lowest nutritional demands.”
She adds yet another reason to consider scoring your cattle.
Kerr: “Body Condition Scoring allows grouping and feeding according to that score. So for the thin animals we can group them and give them more or better food. And the overweight animals we can restrict calories to save feed costs and reduce some possible health complications.”
Tomorrow Dr. Kerr will share the specifics on how to Body Condition Score cows.