Released June 18, 2008

BROOKINGS, S.D. — A publication in Spanish from South Dakota State University gives tips on how to measure nutritional status of dairy cows. SDSU Extension Extra 4040s, “Alimentación de las vacas lecheras para condición corporal,” is available at this link: http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx4040s.pdf.

SDSU Extension Dairy Specialist Alvaro Garcia and professor Arnold Hippen of the SDSU Dairy Science Department tell how to evaluate dairy cows’ nutritional status through body condition score or BCS.

Body condition scores are based on how much body fat a cow may carry on a scale of one to five. A cow with a body condition score of one is a thin cow and one with a body condition score of five is a cow with excessive fat.

Body condition score is essential to the cows’ production, reproduction and overall health. Consult the publication for more information. The English version of SDSU Extension Extra 4040, “Feeding Dairy Cows for Body Condition Score,” is available at this link: http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx4040.pdf.

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Contact: Alvaro Garcia, (605) 688-5488