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What is BCS?
BCS=BODY CONDITION SCORE
Description of the
Condition Score System
BCS 1 - Poor:
Emaciated. Prominent spinous
processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks
and pins. Noticeable bone structure
on withers, shoulders and neck.
No fatty tissues can be palpated.
2 - Very Thin:
Emaciated. Slight fat covering over
base of spinous processes. Transverse
processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Prominent spinous processes, ribs,
tailhead and hooks and pins. Withers,
shoulders and neck structures
faintly discernible.
3 - Thin:
Fat built up about halfway on
spinous processes, transverse processes
cannot be felt. Slight fat cover over
ribs. Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible. Tailhead prominent, but
individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded,
but easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable. Withers, shoulders and
neck accentuated.
4 -Moderately Thin:
Negative crease along back.
Faint outline of ribs discernible.
Tailhead prominence depends on
conformation, fat can be felt around it.
Hook bones not discernible. Withers,
shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
5 - Moderate:
Back is level. Ribs cannot be
visually distinguished, but can be
easily felt. Fat around tailhead
beginning to feel spongy. Withers
appear rounded over spinous processes. Shoulders and neck blend
smoothly into body.
6 - Moderate to Fleshy:
May have slight crease down back.
Fat over ribs feels spongy. Fat around
tailhead feels soft. Fat beginning to
be deposited along the sides of the
withers, behind the shoulders and
along the sides of the neck.
7 - Fleshy:
May have crease down back.
Individual ribs can be felt, but
noticeable filling between ribs with fat.
Fat around tailhead is soft. Fat
deposits along withers, behind
shoulders and along the neck.
8 - Fat:
Crease down back. Difficult to palpate
ribs. Fat around tailhead very soft.
Area along withers filled with fat.
Area behind shoulder filled in flush.
Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat
deposited along inner buttocks.
9- Extremely Fat:
Obvious crease down back. Patchy
fat appearing over ribs. Bulging
fat around tailhead, along withers,
behind shoulders and along neck.
Fat along inner buttocks may rub
together. Flank filled in flush.
