Body Condition Score Record

What this sheet is for

Record condition scores consistently over a year, so changes are visible at the points in the cycle where they matter.

Who it is for

Keepers of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and alpacas — anyone who scores condition.

How to use it

1. Write which scale you are using, and where it came from, before you score anything.
2. Score by hand in the same places every time. Looking is not scoring.
3. Use the same scorer where you can — two people will differ by about half a point.
4. Score at the points in your year that matter, and write down what those are.

What is on the sheet

The layout is fixed at a size that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the A4 and Letter files are visually identical and print at full size on either. Rows are set at a height that an adult can actually write a date and a few words into with a pen — most printable tables are built in a word processor and never tested with one.

Questions

Why is there no scoring scale printed on the sheet?

Because there is no single scale. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses are all scored differently, and the same species is scored on different ranges in different countries. A printed scale would be wrong for most readers and, worse, would be followed. Bring the scale your vet, breed society or scheme uses.

How often should I score?

That depends on your system and the point in the breeding cycle. Most keepers score at a handful of fixed points a year rather than continuously.