Reading your animal's body condition

Body condition scoring is a practical way to assess the energy reserves of cattle, goats and sheep. Look and feel around the backbone, ribs, hooks and pins.

Score regularly and use the trend, not one observation. Sudden losses can signal poor intake, parasites, illness or a ration that does not match production.

Record scores alongside milk yield, breeding and health events. This makes feeding decisions clearer and helps you act before performance drops.

A practical next step

Choose one change, write down what you expect, and monitor the result for at least two weeks. Consistent observation turns advice into useful farm knowledge.