physically palpating each area by hand. Estimating the
amount of fat is done by feeling how much fat is between the skin and bone underneath. Body condition
scores vary from 0 (very poor) to 5 (grossly fat). For
each score a specific description applies. The condition
score at the tail head area is used as the reference
score. When the condition scores at the tail head and
loin area differ by 1 and more, the tail head score is
adjusted by half a score going up or down. This adjustment for differences between the tail head and loin
areas give the Mulvany score an 11 point scale. For a
condition score of 3 at the tail head area and a conditions core of 2 at the loin area, the final score for the
cow becomes 2.5. Recently new research has shown
that it is possible to determine the condition score of
cows using images automatically recorded in the milk
parlour.
Farmers should try to determine the condition score of
cows at least on a monthly basis. With some training
cows get used to the routine and with one helper at
least three cows can be weighed and scored per minute. This information can be recorded on the byre
sheet or preferably, in a separate computer spread
sheet file. The condition scores of cows in early, mid
and late lactation as well as the dry period should be
recorded separately to determine the effect of the lactation stage. The average condition scores of cows in
the different production groups could also be recorded
in a table showing the change in condition score over
time (Table 1). It is generally recommended that the
person doing condition scoring should compare his
scores at least twice a year against another person to
prevent becoming biased. Often because of a heavy
workload the person doing condition scoring could
move away from using the definitions and handling
the cows using only an eyeball method. When comparing scores of two individuals, the final score should not
differ by more than half a score.
Table 1. Using the condition score of cows in different lactation stages to monitor the feeding programme
Month of the year
February
March
January
Lactation stage
April
Dry cows
3.2
3.1
3.2
3.2
Early lactation (<80 days-in-milk)
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
Mid lactation (81 – 200 days-in-milk)
2.4
2.2
1.8
1.8
Late lactation (>201 days-in-milk)
2.9
2.6
1.9
2.1
The mean condition score of the cows at the start of
the recording show the correct balance between dry
cows and cows in early, mid and late lactation. While
the mean lactation scores of dry cows and early lactation cows were maintained at the same level, cows in
mid and late lactation over time showed a decline in
condition score indicating a decline in the feeding conditions for cows these groups. This will result in a deterioration of cows in the dry period which may further
reduce the condition score of cows in early lactation
with negative effects on the subsequent lactation milk
yield and possibly reproductive failures.
Effect on production performance
Farm surveys in the United Kingdom showed that the
body reserves of cows as indicated by their condition
scores have an effect on the milk yield and reproductive performance of cows in the subsequent lactation.
In Table 2 the difference between actual and expected
milk yield for Holstein cows during the first 84 days of
the lactation period and conception rate as affected by
condition score is presented. These results show that
milk yield losses of 1000 kg would occur over a lactation period for very thin (condition score below 1.5)
and very fat (condition score more than 4.0) cows. The
highest milk yield was achieved when cows had a condition score of 3.5 at calving as they produced 182 kg
more milk than their expected milk yields. Conception
rate of cows increased at higher (more than 2.0) condition scores at calving.
Table 2. The effect of condition score at calving on the milk yield and conception rate of dairy cows
Condition score at
calving
Number of cows
Milk yield difference (kg)
Condition score
Conception rate (%)
0.5-1.5
283
-150
<1.5
52
2
159
0
1.5
56
2.5-3.5
213
+95
2.0
68
8
-150
>2.0
72
4