Body score of dairy cows

Abstract

Body CS measurement, based on a standardized technique leading to a numerical assessment, provides a cheap, easily applied measure of fatness in cattle and hence an immediate absolute appraisal that avoids the problems of live weight. The scale is limited and the divisions are coarse. The nutritional significance of CS/C has received considerable research attention. Higher CS/C is associated with smaller feed intake in early lactation, increased loss of CS, increased fat content of milk, especially when the general content is low, and slightly reduced milk protein content. Evidence on the effect of CS/C on subsequent MY is conflicting: some experiments have shown a benefit from increased CS/C but others have not. This outcome may depend on the plane of nutrition after calving. CS/C values > 3.25 have led to small decreases in MY. During lactation, CS responds to change in plane of nutrition in parallel with MY, milk protein content, and live weight. Some but not all the available evidence indicates that the fall in CS in early lactation may be limited physiologically, and subsequent recovery of body reserves may be characterized by a compensatory partition of nutrients to body as well as a response to increased plane of nutrition relative to requirements for milk production. Further investigation is required regarding application of CS to mid to late lactation, particularly partition of nutrients between milk and body, to multiple lactations, to health and fertility, and to CS in relation to the cow potential.