Condition scoring information contributes to key decisions, such as:

• Determining future feed requirement (and feedback on historical strategy)
• Determining which cows to dry-off and when
• Explaining reproductive performance (condition at mating or BCS lost post-calving)

• Condition score targets

  Body condition score at calving	Body condition score at mating
  Mature cow: BCS of 5 Heifer & rising 3 year old: BCS of 5.5 with no more than 15% above or 15% below these targets	The average decrease in BCS for the herd after calving is no more than 1.0 No more than 15% of cows below BCS 4.0 and cows gaining BCS

  If the BCS of any animal falls below 3 (on a scale of 1-10) at any time, urgent action must be taken to improve condition.

How to BCS

Find out how to body condition score a cow using the "hands on" method.

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Test yourself

How well can you BCS? Are you as good as you think? Complete one of the interactive courses to test yourself.

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BCS strategies

Range in body condition score (BCS) is as important as average BCS at calving on New Zealand dairy farms.

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Certified BCS Assessors

This page details certified body condition assessors who are able to accurately score your herd.

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Body condition loss in early lactation

Managing body condition loss in early lactation is critical. Understanding energy and nutrient requirements of cows is crucial to preparing your herd for mating.

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