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What's the Score

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) in Sheep

Whether we breed for pets, vineyards or meat, we should be aware of the body condition of our sheep throughout their lives. Although weight is often the best indicator, not everyone has easy access to scales, and there is often a wide variation between sizes of individuals. Body condition scoring, is a convenient and much more accurate way to describe a sheep, than eye appraisal. Although it’s very easy to pick an emaciated or obese sheep, it’s not as easy to assess those in-between, by just looking at them. Likewise if someone tells me a Babydoll weighs 55kg, I have no idea, what that looks like, unless they tell me the age of the sheep, it’s height, its status, as in pregnant, ram or wether. If someone tells me a Babydoll is BCS 3, I know that sheep is in the ideal condition. The only thing that would affect that, would be if the sheep was a ewe and she is in mid to late pregnancy. Then I would like to see her a little heavier, as in a 3.5 - 4.

So, how do we body score?

We put our hands on them and feel for fat levels. This has to be evaluated using key anatomical parts of the body and the diagrams below will explain what to look for and how to position the hands.

Diagram where to feel to body score your sheep
Body scoring the sheep's spine
Body scoring the transverse processes
Body scoring muscle and fat content of sheep
Sheep body score 1

Body Condition Score 1 - Emaciated

Spinous processes are sharp and prominent. Loin eye muscleis shallow with no fat cover. Transverse processes are sharp; one can pass fingers under the ends. It is possible to feel between each process.

Body Score Condition 2 - Thin

Spinous processes are sharp and prominent. Loin eye muscle has little fat cover but is full. Transverse processes are smooth  and slightly rounded. It is possible to pass fingers under the ends of the transverse processes with a little pressure.

Sheep body score 2
Sheep Body Score 3

Body Condition Score 3 - Average

Spinous processes are smooth and rounded and one can feel individual processes only with pressure. Transverse processes are smooth and well covered, and firm pressure is needed to feel over the ends. Loin eye muscle is full with some fat cover.

Body Condiditon Score 4 - Fat

Spinous processes can be detected only with pressure as a hard line. Transverse processes cannot be felt. Loin eye muscle is full with a thick fat cover.

Sheep Body Score 4
Sheep Body Score 5


Diagrams & descriptions courtesy of Oregon State University.


Body Condition Score 5 - Obese

Spinous processes cannot be detected. There is a depression between fat where spine would normally be felt. Transverse processes cannot be detected. Loin eye muscle is very full with a very thick fat cover. 

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