Begin by a review of the general names for the various body locations which will be referred to in the systematic approach to body condition scoring. Keep in mind that this system is designed to be done from behind the animal. Also you may have to discar d you old system of BCS as the scores will probably be different. However, once this approach is accepted, it will allow repeatable BCS even when several different people do the scoring.

Make a decision about the line over the thurl, this is the cut point between 3.0 or less and 3.25 or greater scores.

Then view from behind.

This system of body condition scoring in dairy cattle was developed with the support of Elanco Animal Health and taken from their bulletin AI 8478 (Rev. 9/96).