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Body Condition and Winter Feeding

Winter feeding is where many herds lose or keep their rebreeding. Body condition scoring turns a guess about whether cows are doing well into something you can check and write down.

What body condition scoring tells you

Body condition score on the 1 to 9 scale describes how much fat a cow carries, from very thin to very fat. It is a practical tool for judging whether your feed program is meeting needs. A cow in the right condition at calving is more likely to rebreed on time.

Learn to score by sight and feel. Ask your extension office or veterinarian for a chart or a demonstration, and practice with others until your scores agree. If you are new to scoring, start by scoring a handful of cows alongside someone experienced, then compare notes. Practice makes the score faster and more consistent. A score of one is extremely thin and a score of nine is extremely fat, and most herds aim well between those ends. Your vet or extension agent can tell you the range that fits your cattle.

When to score

Score cows at key points: weaning, early winter, mid winter, before calving and at breeding. Early winter scoring gives you time to correct problems, while it is much harder to put condition on a cow once she has calved.

Write scores in a notebook or spreadsheet, linked to each cow or group. Trends matter more than a single reading. Do not rely on a single score from a single day. Weather, gut fill and winter hair can all make a cow look different from one visit to the next. Plan for calving season and breeding season as separate scoring dates, because a cow that is fine in November can be a problem by April.

• At weaning
• Early winter
• Before calving
• At breeding

Sorting cows by condition and age

Thin cows, first-calf heifers and old cows need more feed than mature cows in good condition. Sorting them into groups lets you feed each group more precisely and reduce waste.

Separate cows that are falling behind quickly, and ask your vet to check for health issues such as parasites, bad teeth or illness. Keeping groups small and consistent also makes it easier to see changes. A cow that slips in a group of similar cows stands out quickly. Write down each group and what it receives, so that anyone who feeds on a given day knows the plan.

Matching feed to need

Winter needs rise with cold, wind and wet weather, and late pregnancy raises them further. Test your hay and ask a nutritionist to build a ration or supplement plan that fits the feed and your cows.

Do not guess at supplement amounts. Too little leaves cows thin, and too much costs money and can cause problems. Feed prices and supply change, so keep your plan flexible and ask your nutritionist about alternatives if a feed becomes too costly or hard to find.

Water, shelter and weather

Cattle need water in winter. Ice, frozen lines and cold water can limit intake. Check water daily, and provide windbreaks or shelter as practical.

Cold and wet weather increase energy needs. Dry bedding and good footing can help. Keep ice off tanks, check floats and heaters, and do not assume that cattle are drinking enough just because water is available. Watch them.

Thin cows and what to do

If cows are thin, act early. Options include sorting and feeding better, weaning calves early with your vet's guidance or culling those that will not recover. Waiting until spring seldom works.

Ask your vet about causes of poor condition, such as poor teeth, parasites or disease. Early weaning can lower the demand on a thin cow, but it adds stress and feed needs for the calf, so talk it through with your veterinarian first.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Common mistakes include scoring too late, feeding all cows alike, ignoring water in winter and skipping hay tests. Another is relying on appearance in a heavy winter coat, which can hide condition. Feel the cow, not only look.

Ask your nutritionist: What ration fits my hay and cows? Ask your vet: What health problems could explain thin cows? Ask your lender or accountant how feed costs fit your plan. Remember that a cow's condition at calving has more effect on rebreeding than almost anything you do afterward, so put your effort into the months before.

• Do not rely on looks alone in winter coats
• Do not wait until calving to fix a thin cow
• Do not forget water

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