Body Condition Scoring
System
Maxine Kinne
Illustrations by Sunny Larsen
This body condition scoring was developed for the National Pygmy Goat Association in 1995 to address the unfortunate consequences of obesity and its relationship to dystocia. The Board of Directors immediately approved it for inclusion in the Judges Training Manual. To my knowledge, it has not been included, and judges are not trained to use it.
Illustrations show loin structure, the regions of the back between the ribs and hips. Descriptions are what you feel on the loin with firm fingertip pressure. Also discussed are in bones, or tuber ischii, part of the pelvis and located at either side of the vulva in does and the same location in bucks. Other versions of condition scoring describe fat padding on chest floor and how it correlates with features included in this system. Each of the five categories has a descriptive title and a score number. Padding over the ribs is never used to accurately judge body condition.
|
Parts of the Loin |
|
|
Spinous processes are the bones felt on top of the back. Vertebral processes are the long bones
horizontal to the spine. The vertebral angle is the triangle
between the top of the spinous process, the edge of the vertebral process
and the skin. The muscle inside this angle is the longissimus, or eye muscle,
a roast or part of a T-bone steak. |
|
1 POOR |
||
|
Loin Rump Pins |
No muscle on edges of transverse process, bones very sharp,
thin skin Vertebral angle has little muscle and is very concave Spinous processes very prominent with no muscle in between Sharp outline visible; no muscle between skin and bones Very sharp, no padding |
Features Skeleton has little or no muscle. Hollows in the flanks below the loin are very concave. Causes Poor diet, disease, parasitism, lactation, or any combination of these. Problems Slow growth rate in kids; stunting in growing animals, conception failure, abortion, weak or dead newborns, metabolic disease during pregnancy, very susceptible to disease. Solutions Better nutrition, management and herd health program. Evaluate disease status. |
||
2 THIN |
||
|
Loin Rump Pins |
Muscle extends to the edges of transverse process, spacing
can be felt between the vertebral processes, thin skin Outline slightly contoured; light padding but bones still somewhat prominent and very easy to feel Sharp, little padding |
Features Skeleton has some muscle. Hollows in the flanks below the loin are somewhat concave. Causes Poor diet, disease, parasitism, lactation or any combination of these. Problems Slow growth rate in kids and growing animals, metabolic disease, weak or dead newborns, susceptible to disease. Solutions Better nutrition, management and herd health program. Evaluate disease status. |
||
3 GOOD |
||
|
Loin Rump Pins |
Muscle and subcutaneous fat covers edges of vertebral process; individual bones are somewhat distinct Smooth, without signs of fat; pelvic bones and spine are distinct Slight pressure needed to feel the pin bones |
Features Muscle over skeleton felt with gentle pressure. Firm pressure is not needed to feel bones. Hollows in the flanks are barely concave or level with the surrounding area of the sides. Problems None. Maintain condition at 3 or slightly higher, depending on age and production status. |
||
Scores 1-3 represent muscle growth/expansion |
||
4 FAT |
||
|
Loin Rump Pins |
Vertebral processes indistinct and firm pressure needed to feel them Vertebral angle rounded but not yet bulging over spinous processes Spinous process spacing difficult to detect; spine felt as a hard line Heavily padded with fat; bones can only be felt with firm pressure Heavily padded with fat, and firm pressure needed to feel them |
Features Very firm pressure needed to feel all bony structures. Causes Feeding in excess, limited exercise. Problems Inhibited locomotion, easily tired, orthopedic abnormalities, dystocia, metabolic disease. Solutions Reduce plane of nutrition, provide exercise. |
||
5 OBESE |
||
|
Loin Rump Pins |
Edge of vertebral processes and spacing between too fat to feel bones Vertebral angle bulges over the level of the spinous processes Spine lies in the center of a groove of fat Buried in fat, bones very indistinct Buried in fat, hard to locate |
Features Bones covered with a thick layer of fat over the muscle are very hard to feel. Causes Feeding in excess, limited exercise. Problems Inhibited locomotion, easily tired, orthopedic abnormalities, infertility, dystocia, metabolic disease. Solutions Reduce plane of nutrition, provide exercise. |
||
|
Related Reading |
| Thin Goats,
Fat Goats & Just Right Goats Of Mangers and Feed Pans Feeding During Pregnancy One + One Shouldn't = One Maximize Litter Size Solving the Mysteries of Obstetrics |
| © |
Copyright 1995 |
