Body condition scoring in goat: Impact and significance

Abstract

Body condition is a term used to signify the body reserves present in an individual animal. An animal’s body condition indicates the amount of lipid (fat) and protein (muscle) reserves that are available for maintenance, reproduction and production. Body Condition Scoring is an important tool for livestock managers or producers to optimize the production (meat and milk), feeding program, reproduction and welfare of the animals. Scoring is based on determining the amount of muscle and fat over and around the vertebrae. Scoring is performed in goats using a BCS ranging from 1.0 to 5.0, with 0.5 increments. It is helpful to detect changes and sudden losses in condition which are difficult to observe from the external appearance of animal. BCS is used for evaluating the current and past feeding program, judging the health status of individual animals. BCS is a simple but useful procedure, which can help producers make management decisions regarding the quality and quantity of feed needed to optimize production and reproduction thus can play an important role in goat marketing.