It allows the adjustment of ewe nutrition to try to maximise productivity and reduce health and welfare problems associated with lean or overfat body condition.
Benefits to the flock include higher lambing and rearing %, increased milk yields, reduced lambing period, metabolic disorders and deaths.
Body Condition scoring (BCS) of sheep is a quick and simple management tool to assess the body reserves of sheep throughout the year. Ensuring the animals are in target condition at key timings through the reproductive cycle offers benefits such as:
» Higher scanning, lambing and weaning %
» Reduced ewe mortality
» Production of viable and heavier lambs with a good immunity
» Higher weaning weights
» Production of more colostrum and milk
» Improved maternal behaviour
Condition score is assessed by handling the animal over and around the backbone in the area of the loin above the last long rib. It is essential the animal is relaxed and not tense or tight against other sheep.
1. Locate the short ribs of the sheep, directly after the final, 13th long rib.
2. Using the balls of your fingers and your thumb, feel the level of fat cover over the vertical processes (spine) with your thumb and the level of roundness of muscle and fat cover over the horizontal processes (short ribs) with your fingers.
3. The final step is to assess the eye muscle and its cover by pressing the fingers into the area between the vertical and horizontal processes.
