requirements and we need to pro- vide a higher quality diet that meets the dry matter intake of the cow. The third-stage nutrition program might utilize supplements and more densely packed nutrient feedstuffs to meet those requirements.”
Clues to gauging body condition score According to a Texas A&M
AgriLife fact sheet, generally only the 12th and the 13th ribs are dis- tinguishable on a cow with a BCS score of 5. The muscle tissue is close to maximum and the fat deposit behind the shoulder is noticeable. For a score of 6, the ribs are cov-
ered completely and fat is beginning to cover the rump; the ribcage is barely visible and muscle tissue is at its greatest. For a score of 7, the ribs are not
visible, skeletal structures are be- coming difficult to identify and there are fat deposits under the ud- der and behind the shoulders. With lower, thinner grades, bony
structures like the spine, ribs, and the hooks and pins are fully visible. For those animals, Nichols says, “If I want to tailor my nutrition program for the cows that are in BCS 1 to 4 and I have a facility, I will put them in a place where I can feed them and give them the energy and pro- tein that they need to gain weight.” The cows that are in BCS grades
5 to 7 will just be maintained, and those above 7 will be isolated and fed a diet that might help them re- turn to a body condition score of 5 to 6. He says, “We can cheapen the
diet for these cows and save a little money. You do not want to starve them; you just want them to lose a little weight.” Even a gaunt cow, he notes, will continue to support the calf growing
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