Body Condition Scoring

Determine farm protocols to:

  • Determine body condition scoring (BCS) guidelines and actions required per condition score.
  • Determine equipment and methods to condition score sows or gilts.
  • Define frequency and amount of feed based on (BCS) and nutritional needs of animal.
  • Record observations and actions taken.
  • Determine criteria to revise current actions or take additional actions.

There are multiple ways to perform this procedure. The following is a template to assist in customizing a standard operating procedure for this procedure on your farm. Edit as necessary to describe the procedures specific to your farm.

Introduction

Body condition scoring (BCS) is used to determine the amount of body fat or “condition” a sow or gilt has. The amount of body fat is an indicator of a breeding animal’s nutrition status. Providing a BCS helps caretakers determine the amount of feed a sow or gilt should receive daily. Maintaining a female’sBCSwillhelp optimize litter size, maximize piglet birth weight and control feed costs.

Safety

Hazard: fall (slip, trip), caught between gestation stall, animal bite, dust (respiratory)

Personalprotective equipment (PPE) that should be used to help ensure safety mayinclude a dust mask, hearing protection, exam gloves and safety-toe boots.

Supplies

Supplies that may be used for body condition scoring include:

  • Sow body condition scoring chart
  • Sow card to identify stage of pregnancy
  • Materials for recording BCS

Procedure

For individually housed sows:

  • Get sows up. Do not attempt to score a sow that is lying down.
  • Determine the flesh covering of the hip bones, back bone, and shoulder blades, and score each animal per operation’s BCS guidelines.
  • Adjust feed levels as determined by the operation’s guidelines.
  • Identify animals to be culled, per operation’s guidelines.

Note: For individuallyhoused sows,consider two caretakers to walk each row of sows; one in front of the sow’s head and one behind the sow. This may reduce total time needed to score and adjust feeders. If two caretakers participate in condition scoring:

  • The caretaker behind the animals should provide the BCS according tothe operation’s BCSguidelines.
  • The caretaker at the head of the animal will adjust the feed levels up or down if a sow’s body condition does not meet the operation’s guidelines.

For sows group-housed in pens, one caretaker should walk in the pen of sows.

  • Get all sows or gilts up. Do not attempt to score a sow that is lying down.
  • Determine the BCS of each animal per operation’s BCS guidelines.
  • Be aware of where other sows are located to help avoid being struck by an animal.
  • Record body condition score.
  • If a sow’s body condition does not meet guidelines, follow management procedures to adjust feed intake accordingly.

Follow-up

Notify your supervisor so he/she may consult with the operation’s nutritionist if:

  • Body condition scores of females within the herd are not meeting the targeted levels
  • Operation’s feed usage per breeding female or feed costsare not meeting targets.