|  Introduction to BCS
Cows come in all shapes and sizes. But should they?
A lot of research has been done to determine what the best weight is for ole Moo. The result of this research is BCS.
BCS means Body Condition Scoring.
It is a tool for monitoring the nutritional condition of a cow. To be exact, it determines the amount of subcutaneous body fat or or body fat reserves of a cow.
Why is it important or useful to know the Moo's BCS? Well, it certainly isn't to figure out her dress size. No,not at all.
A cow's BCS is closely linked to her reproductive success. If the cow doesn't have enough body fat, she will breed at an unacceptable rate. That means, there won't be enough cows to go around. |
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BCS is an important management tool for maximizing milk production and reproductive efficiency while reducing the risk of various diseases.
It is a tool used by many producers, university personnel, industry representatives and veterinarians to monitor the effectiveness of nutritional programs. |
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Animal Doc | Beef Cattle Body Condition Scoring