What is the degree of fatness in breeding animals?

Answer 1

It's called body condition score. It is typically a numerical rating system from 1 to 9 (American) or 1 to 5 (British/Canadian/American dairy), with 1 being the most emaciated, 9 (or 5) as very fat.

For breeding animals, the target should be around 4 to 6 on a scale of 1 to 9 (or 3 on a scale of 1 to 5) as being the most ideal condition for cows and bulls for breeding and calving. This is because this is optimum for best fertility and calving ability. Any animal that is too fat or too thin has problems with poor fertility, as well as birthing.

Heifers and young bulls that are too fat have fertility problems because the excess fat impacts the further maturity of reproductive organs; fat cows can develop cystic ovaries which also impact fertility, and disrupts normal hormonal cycles (estrous). Heifers that are too fat also will have problems with milking ability because of the higher amount of fat globules in the udder versus mammary glands. Fat around the testicles in the bull will negatively impact fertility. Also, too much fat around the birth canal can make calving difficult, particularly for first-time heifers.

Very thin cows also have fertility problems because more energy from the food the eat is being put into just the bodily maintenance requirements to keep the cow alive. A cow's bodily priorities is the body first, and once the maintenance requirements are satisfied, reproductive capacity comes second. If the maintenance requirements are not met, fertility is compromised. Thin cows tire out more readily when calving because of lack of muscle tone and stored energy to give the effort to push out a calf.