1
37
Body Condition Score #1: This is an emaciated or starving ewe. Her ribs and back bones will be extremely prominent, and she will appear unthrifty and rough. This ewe is likely not receiving enough nutrition to maintain a healthy appearance or function as expected. Skeletal bones can be felt through the hide. Body Condition Score #2: A ewe in this range will be a ewe that might be thin as a result of weaning her lambs. Her nutrition may have also been reduced in an effort to dry her off following lactation. She will have a higher degree of fleshing than a 1 score but her hip bones, spine, ribs and shoulder bones will be moderately evident. Body score 1.5 to 2.5 would be a point at which increased nutrition or “flushing” could begin to prepare a ewe for breeding. Her overall appearance will be lean. Body Condition Score #3: Ewes would be considered in ideal body condition in this range. Her true muscle shape will be on full display. This is the point at which rams can be introduced to the ewes for breeding. This ewe will not have severe bony prominences and she will be in lean and athletic condition and she can be expected to cycle, breed and settle to the service of the ram. A score of 3.5 would be acceptable for a ewe that has lambed and beginning lactation. A line drawn from the point of the shoulder to the flank will indicate very little body mass below the line. Body Condition Score #4: In this range, ewes are becoming over-conditioned. Fat will begin to accumulate in the breast and shoulder first, progressing down her top line to the ribs and rear areas last. As fat accumulates it will also begin to settle in the lower third of the ewe’s body, udder, pelvis and twist. She may appear to be thicker, but this is often a result of fat accumulation internally between the muscle seams pushing them outwardly. The ewe will feel soft to the touch. Body Condition Score #5: Such a ewe will be obese and functionally compromised. She will be soft to the touch. Her brisket will be full and “U” shaped when viewed from the front. She will be wider at her shoulders than at her hip due to the fat accumulated in her shoulder and rib areas. Her backbone and hip bones will not be palpable. Her flanks will be full as well as her dock and twist giving her a squared off appearance that does not match her actual muscle shape. She will push rolls of fat behind her shoulder when moving. Her pelvis and udder may fill with fat severely reducing her ability to lamb easily or produce milk. A line drawn from the point of the shoulder to the flank will indicate a large area of fat pulled by gravity into the lower one third of her body. She may not breed and will be a candidate for ketosis in late gestation.
2
3
4
5
Body condition scores (BCS) for sheep range from 1 to 5 (extremely thin to very fat). It is important to manage body condition in ewes to optimize breeding and lambing success. Ideal body condition for ewes will vary according to the stage of production that they are in. It is best to avoid the extreme scores of 1 and 5 and to work within the 2 to 4 range.
Illustrations by Cali Roberson
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