Measurement Body Condition Score
The nine point scale is relied on by veterinarians researchers and horse owners to describe the body condition of a horse in a consistent and universal manner.
Measurement body condition score. All of these cows were on the same tai protocol so biologically whats happening with these cows is body condition changes. A healthy 20 25 year old should achieve a score of 100. Ribs visible on short haired cats. There was no effect of age p 010 or sex p 010 on the bcs but farm had an effect p 0001 data not shown.
Ribs palpable with difficulty. Cdc technologies oxford conn. Further information on horse ownership and management call our customer service centre on 136 186. Some evidence of other bony prominence.
1988 body condition scoring and weight estimation of horses equine veterinary journal 20 41 45. It seems to have a profound effect on their fertility says fricke. Leg muscle score lmsi the ratio of muscle mass in your legs to your total body weight. Body condition score at calving.
Waist absent or barely visible. Heifer rising 3 year old. Body condition scores of the 254 horses varied from 3 to 9 fig. Obvious loss of muscle mass.
Minimal loss of muscle mass. A score is given for your physical condition and plotted against average healthy values for gender and age. Of the 254 horses 216 were also given a bcs by their owners. Ribs lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible.
The score is based on your leg muscle mass divided by your body weight. Body weight was measured then salivary glands and mandibular and superfi cial cervical lymph nodes were removed as a unit and weighed. Body condition score over ideal ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Abdominal tuck may be present.
No more than 15 of cows below bcs 40 and cows gaining bcs. There are three key areas to consider. Lumbar vertebrae and wings of ilia obvious and easily palpable. Those cows that maintained body condition after calving had a pregnancy rate of 38 and those that gained weight had a pregnancy rate of 83.
Waist is discernible viewed from above but is not prominent. The henneke body condition score system provides an accurate objective measure of the body fat a horse has accumulated. Noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Neck body and hind quarters and you will need to look at and get hands on to help you determine between muscle and fat.
White blood cell counts were determined by use of an automatic cell counter hemavet 800. Fat scoring also referred to as body condition scoring is an ideal way to assess your horses overall fat covering to help determine whether they are a healthy weight. Finally the spleen was removed and weighed.