1: Body Conditioning Score

Poor

Animal extremely emaciated

Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae & ischia projecting prominently

Bone structure of withers, shoulders & neck easily noticeable

No fatty tissue can be felt

Very thin

Animal emaciated

Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded

Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae & ischia prominent

Withers, shoulders, & neck structure faintly discernible

Thin

Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes

Transverse processes cannot be felt

Slight fat cover over ribs

Spinous processes & ribs easily discernible

Tailhead prominent but individual vertebra cannot be identified visually

Tuber coxae, appear rounded but easily discernible

Tuber ischia not distinguishable

Withers, shoulders & neck accentuated

Moderately thin

Slight ridge along back

Faint outline of ribs discernible

Tailhead prominence depends on conformation

Fat can be felt around it

Tuber coxae not discernible

Withers, shoulders & neck not obviously thin

Moderate

Back is flat (no crease/ridge)

Ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt

Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy

Withers appear rounded over spinous processes

Shoulders & neck blend smoothly into body

Moderately fleshy

May have slight crease down back

Fat over ribs spongy

Fat around tailhead soft

Fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders & along sides of neck

Fleshy

May have slight crease down back

Individual ribs can be felt but noticeable filling between ribs with fat

Fat around the tailhead soft

Fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders & long neck

Fat

Crease down back

Difficult to feel ribs

Fat around tailhead very soft

Fat area along withers filled with fat, area behind shoulder filled with fat, noticeable thickening of neck

Fat deposited along inner things

Extremely fat

Obvious crease down back

Patchy fat appearing over ribs, bulging fat around tailhead

Along withers, behind shoulders & along neck, fat along inner thighs may rub together

Flank filled with fat