Condition scoring is done to see if cattle are healthy enough for breeding and production – or if stockmen suspect that animals are sick.
Figure 1
Scoring cattle condition
1 = too thin
2 = thin, but healthy
3 = ideal condition
4 = fat
5 = too fat
Checking and scoring the condition of cattle is not difficult but requires some experience. First feel the amount of fat under the skin in the areas marked A and B in Figure 1: A is the loin area between the hip bone and the last rib.
B is the area around the tail head.
Figure 2 shows the five possible conditions.
Remember, animals that are too fat can have problems with breeding and calving. A condition score of 3 is ideal, but the score shouldn’t drop below 2.
Source: Condition Scoring of Cattle, by Jenny Turton (Directorate Communication, national department of agriculture in co-operation with ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute).
