BODY CONDITION SCORE IN GOATS
Dr. Anjali Gautam1, Dr. Kumar Govil2, Dr. Abhilasha Singh2, Dr. Ankush Niranjan2,
Dr. Rohini Gupta3
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, MP.
- College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Rewa (MP)
- College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Rewa (MP)
The general body condition of the animal is very important indicator of overall health and fat reserves of goats. It can be determined on the basis of body weight, body fat, sternal fat and lumbar region condition. The body condition score is of much economical importance particularly in goats. Knowledge of the body condition helps in developing better feeding programs as per the requirement of the animal during the production cycle contributes to improving the growth as well as reproductive performance and leads to a better economic returns. The physiological mechanisms regulating the storage and mobilization of body reserves have mainly been studied in intensively fed dairy goats. In extensive rearing systems, goats are depends primarily on forage areas, which might cause several problems mainly related to flock management, ecological equilibrium and economic viability of production systems. Moreover, feeding of poor forages in extensive system of rearing reduces the various production parameters including live weight, weight gain and milk yield, representing a major problem to the farmer in extensive system of rearing. Therefore, using simple methods such as body condition scoring by palpation is a better means adapted to these rearing conditions.
Due to the various anatomical features of young females (e.g. difficulty in defining sternal fat) and old animals (e.g. sternal callosity) it is more difficult to allocate a body score to animals of eight years and more.
Score 0 “Poor”–
- Animal in skeleton conditions, on the point of death.
- Animal is very much emaciated.
No subcutaneous tissue present in body.
Score 1 “Average”–
Aspect of the animal:
- Emaciated animal: The backbone is highly visible and forms a continuous ridge.
- The flank is hollow.
The ribs can be seen and the croup stands out.
Sternum region:
- The sternal fat can easily be seized with the fingers; it is very flat and slightly hard. It moves with the hand’s movement from the right to the left.
- Sternal fat weight of approximately 20 g at slaughter.
- The chondrosternal joints and the beginning of the ribs can be felt by a slight finger touch.
Lumbar region:
- The lumbar vertebrae are seized with the whole hand; it is a rough and prominent mass.
- No muscle or fat thickness is noted between the skin and the bones. The fingers can easily reach and seize the transverse processes which are clearly outlined.
- The prominent articular processes can be felt perfectly well with the fingertips.
Score 2 “Fair”–
Aspect of the animal:
- Slightly raw-boned: The backbone is still visible with a continuous ridge.
Sternum region:
- The sternal fat can still be seized with the fingers but it is thicker (1 to2 cm). It can easily be detached throughout its whole length with the fingertips, a small tissue layer can be seen between the skin and the chondrosternal joints.
Sternal fat weight of approximately 50 g at slaughter.
Lumbar region:
- The vertebrae can still be seized with the whole hand, but a tissue mass appears under and over the transverse processes; the outlines of the transverse processes are difficult to perceive with the fingertips.
- Spinous processes are less prominent and the articular processes can be felt by slight pressure.
Score 3 “Good”–
Aspect of the animal:
The backbone is not prominent; the croup is well covered.
Sternum region:
- The sternal fat can be well distinguished; it is thick and little mobile.
- Sternal fat is difficult to seize because the surrounding mass of tissue (fat and muscles) is not very large.
- Sternal fat weight of approximately 80 g at slaughter.
A thorough palpation is needed to perceive the chondrosternal joints.
Lumbar region:
- The tissue layer covering the lumbar vertebrae is very thick but it can be seized with 3 fingers.
- When running a finger over the spinous processes a slight hollow is felt.
- The articular processes and the outlines of the transverse processes are no longer perceived.
Score 4 “Very Good”–
Aspect of the animal:
No particular signs.
Sternum region:
- It is difficult to seize the sternal fat because of its thickness. It is almost intermingled with the mass of fat and muscle covering the chondrosternal joints and the ribs.
Lumbar region:
- It is difficult to put the fingers under the transverse processes, which can no longer be seized: they are wrapped in a thick layer of tissue.
- The spinous processes can no longer be felt with the fingers. They form a continuous line.
Score 5 “Excellent”–
Aspect of the animal:
No particular signs.
Sternum region:
The sternal fat cannot be identified. It cannot be seized. A thick mass of tissue covering the ribs and sternum evenly is felt between the fingers.
Lumbar region:
- The thickness of the tissue mass is so large that reference marks on the transverse and spinous processes are lost. Moreover, it is impossible to put the fingers under the transverse processes.
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