Physique mass index is one measure that folks use to judge their general well being when speaking with their medical crew. In a lot the identical means, veterinarians and beef producers are capable of measure the well-being of the cow herd by assigning a physique situation rating of every animal, in keeping with the consultants at Kansas State College’s Beef Cattle Institute talking on a current Cattle Chat podcast.
“Cows are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9, with ones being very skinny and nines being extraordinarily overweight,” mentioned veterinarian Brad White. “Cows post-weaning will usually rating within the 4-6 vary.”
Veterinarian Bob Larson recommends evaluating the cows’ physique situation at three factors within the yearly cycle — at weaning, just a few weeks previous to calving and proper forward of breeding.
“The primary purpose for physique situation scoring is to determine the cows that want further supplementation and feed them individually from the remainder of the herd,” Larson mentioned.
Beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster mentioned late summer time/early fall is an optimum time to judge the spring calving cows due to the flexibility to regulate their complement wants at a time within the being pregnant when there’s a low dietary demand.
“Throughout the subsequent two months the spring-calving cow can have the bottom power necessities that she can have within the yr as a result of she is in mid-gestation,” Lancaster mentioned.
He added that in this time of yr, a cow with a great physique situation rating can keep her weight with poor high quality forage, and people who want so as to add physique weight might be separated and turned out on the most effective obtainable forage to economically add situation.
“With a spring-calving herd, the aim can be to have the cows at a physique situation rating of 5 in December,” Lancaster mentioned.
Whereas turning these cows that want to achieve again out on fall pastures is a technique, Lancaster mentioned that might not be doable in areas the place there was drought.
“Producers may have to have a look at constructing the most cost effective ration, and that isn’t all the time a food regimen that’s excessive in forage,” Lancaster mentioned.
He inspired producers to have a look at different potential feed sources, corresponding to silage, and even permitting them to graze fields the place the crops have failed.
“If a crop is not going to provide prefer it ought to, it could be finest to make use of it as a feed supply for the herd slightly than making an attempt to reap it,” Lancaster mentioned.
White cautioned that producers following that possibility want to ensure there aren’t any toxins within the subject and assume via how they transition the cows to a grain-based food regimen.
“Turning out cows right into a corn subject goes to require completely different administration than turning them out on corn stalks after the harvest,” White mentioned. “Simply be sure to have a plan on how you’ll deal with the cows shifting ahead.”
Supply: Kansas State College Analysis and Extension, which is solely chargeable for the data offered, and wholly owns the data. Informa Enterprise Media and all its subsidiaries are usually not accountable for any of the content material contained on this data asset.
