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Assessment of a cow’s Body Condition Score (BCS) gives a visual estimate of her body fat
reserves, which in turn provides useful information on her future productivity, future feed
requirements and previous level of feeding.
Cows should be dried off according to targets, and fed generously when dry.
Aim for a target BCS at calving of 5 for mature cows and 5.5 for heifers at their first and
second calving.
Cows calving thin (less than BCS of 5.0) will produce less milk and are more likely to have
reproductive problems.
Cows calving too fat (greater than BCS of 6.0) are more likely to have calving problems,
metabolic diseases and other health issues.
There is no difference between OAD and TAD cows on when they should be dried off.
While a cow is not milking the length of time required to put BCS back on is the same for
OAD and TAD cows.
Some fat cows and some thin cows will give you a good average score.
When the cows are dry it is important to separate the thin and fat cows and feed the thin
cows extra while feeding fat cows to maintain condition.
Dry cows must be fed like milkers to gain 1 BCS unit in 30 days
Drying off time based on BCS
To gain 1 BCS in 1 month a cow must eat the amounts shown in the following table over
and above her requirements for maintenance.