In this video from Oklahoma State University Extension and SunUp TV, Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Cattle Specialist, talks about the key to your replacement heifers have a successful first calving: it’s good body condition. This means that on a one to nine scale, they should be at least at the mid-point of 5, and even a six is more ideal.
A study done at Oklahoma State University illustrates the difference between good and not-so-good body condition. This graphic shows how those heifers that were in thin body condition at calving time only rebred at a 67% rate, even when they were fed to greatly increase body condition after calving. In contrast, those heifers in good body condition at calving time, and either maintained that through the breeding season, or even had a chance to gain a little bit more after calving, had a much better breed back rates of 91 and 94%.
For more, Glenn Selk discusses this in the video below. If you’d like to learn more about body condition scoring, follow this link for more On Pasture articles.
Thanks to Oklahoma State University and SunUp TV for their excellent resources.
Thanks for this useful article. Great illustrations and graphics.
Is there an article like this on body condition scoring of ewes?
Why are cows scored on a scale of 1-9 and ewes on a scale of 1-5? Or are there a variety of scales and scoring systems?