Managing cattle herd health and nutrition effectively throughout the year is key for livestock producers, but these considerations become even more significant as winter approaches. We ask a lot of the herd during the coldest parts of the year. Cows are calving and going through lactation, all while preparing for breed back. Feed resources are typically more limited as snow covers forages, and the nutrient values of available forages are decreased.
At BioZyme®, our team understands that herd management isn’t easy, regardless of the season. That is why we create these educational tools with the producers in mind.
One of the best tools available to ensure cattle are prepared for the challenges of colder weather is body condition score. Cattle that adequately maintain their body condition score (BCS) should also be healthier, hardier animals that calve out easier and breed back more efficiently.
By understanding and utilizing BCS to assess the health of their herd, producers can make better-informed decisions about feeding strategies and manage overall costs more efficiently. They can do so while safeguarding the well-being of their animals during the harsh winter months.
What Is Body Condition Scoring?
When you body condition score cattle, you are evaluating the nutritional status and fat reserves of cattle. The BCS system typically ranges from 1 to 9, where:
- 1 indicates an emaciated animal with very little to no fat cover and significant signs of malnutrition.
- 5 to 7 indicates optimum condition, and you would want most cows going into calving to be about 6.
- 9 represents an excessively obese animal with too much body fat.
“It’s important to visually appraise and body condition score cattle to ensure proper conversion of their nutrients,” said Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme Director of Beef Technical Sales. “As we are going into winter, about 90 days pre-calving is a great time to start supplementing with additional protein or energy, if they seem a little thin. We don’t want them too fat, but we don’t need them too thin come calving time, either.”
Cassady emphasized that body condition scoring cattle has been around for a very long time because it is an effective tool.
“The cow can generate energy for biological functions in a lot of ways. She will mobilize her own fat stores if she needs energy. If she looks thin, she’s not getting enough and vice versa,” he said.
BCS can be determined by visually assessing the animal and palpating certain areas to feel for both fat and muscle. Critical areas to evaluate include the ribs, spine, hooks, pins and tail head.
Why Is BCS Important Going into Winter?
Cold weather demands more energy from cattle to maintain their body temperature and normal physiological functions. Without adequate fat reserves, cattle can experience severe weight loss, reduced immune function, lower reproduction rates and higher susceptibility to diseases. By ensuring the proper body condition score, cattle are less likely to endure cold stress.
Body Condition Scoring provides crucial information that can help mitigate these risks. Our team has compiled 4 reasons why paying attention to BCS is crucial as winter approaches:
1. Energy Reserves & Cold Stress
Fat serves as an essential energy reserve for cattle, especially during the colder months when energy requirements increase significantly. When temperatures drop, animals expend more calories to generate heat. If the available diet does not meet this increased energy need, cattle will start using their fat reserves. Cattle with a lower BCS entering winter are at a higher risk of not having enough energy to sustain them. This leads to weight loss, weakened immune systems and even death in extreme cases.
Implications of cold stress in your cow herd include:
Increased Feed Costs
To compensate for higher energy needs, cattle with lower BCS require more supplemental feed, which can become costly.
Reduced Forage Efficiency
Animals with a better BCS are more efficient at converting forage into usable energy, while underconditioned cattle struggle to derive sufficient nutrition.
By evaluating BCS in the fall, producers can anticipate the increased energy needs of their herd and adjust feed rations to support adequate energy reserves.
2. Reproductive Performance & Future Productivity
Body condition plays a crucial role in the reproductive health of breeding cattle. Cows that go into winter with a suboptimal BCS are less likely to come into estrus in the spring. They may even have delayed conception or fail to conceive entirely. Even if they do conceive, their overall reproductive performance and calf health can suffer.
A subpar BCS can have the following implications on reproductive success in your herd:
Lower Calf Birth Weights
Poor body condition can result in calves with lower birth weights, increasing their susceptibility to illness and reducing their growth potential.
Higher Risk of Calf Mortality
Cows that enter winter in poor condition may have less milk production and colostrum quality affecting calf survival and growth rates.
Delayed Breeding
Cows with a low BCS are more likely to have prolonged postpartum intervals, affecting the timing of the next breeding season.
Maintaining an appropriate BCS is not just about the current season but has long-term effects on the productivity of the entire herd. Ensuring cows are in good condition going into winter can help maintain a tight calving window and improve overall herd fertility.
3. Immune System Strength & Health Risks
Cattle with inadequate fat reserves often have compromised immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections and diseases. Winter is already a stressful time for livestock, with potential challenges such as fluctuating temperatures, wet and muddy conditions and exposure to pathogens. Animals in poor condition are less capable of fending off these stressors, increasing the likelihood of health issues.
Keeping your herd healthy has the following impacts:
Lowered Disease Resistance
Underconditioned cattle may struggle to fight off common illnesses like respiratory infections or digestive disturbances.
Vaccination Efficacy
A weakened immune system may also mean that vaccinations are less effective, reducing the overall health status of the herd.
Treatment Costs
Medical interventions and treatments for sick cattle can be expensive and time-consuming, further emphasizing the need to maintain a healthy BCS.
Take time to assess body condition scores and make necessary dietary adjustments before winter. This simple act can result in fewer veterinary interventions and healthier cattle, saving you both time and money.
4. Feed Management & Cost Efficiency
Properly managing feed is a critical aspect of preparing cattle for winter. BCS can help producers allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that cattle receive adequate nutrition without unnecessary waste. Cattle with a BCS of 5 or 6 require less high-energy feed supplementation than those with lower scores.
Cassady reminds producers to pay special attention to heifers and 2-year-olds.
“Typically, they’re the culprits of the thin cows. They need to be accounted for by either grouping them separately or making sure the baseline nutrition is targeted toward their needs,” he said.
A producer can strategically feed their cattle, based on BCS, using the following:
Prioritizing Nutritional Needs
Thin animals (BCS < 4) may require high-energy supplements to improve their condition. Cattle in good shape (BCS 5-6) can be maintained with a more cost-effective feed regimen.
Cost-Effective Strategies
Overfeeding well-conditioned cattle or underfeeding thin cattle can both lead to economic losses. Monitoring BCS allows for tailored feeding strategies that save money and resources.
Investing time in regular BCS assessments can significantly impact the overall efficiency and profitability of the operation. Planning feeding programs based on actual animal needs can also prevent waste and optimize the use of available forage and feed.
How to Implement BCS Effectively
When producers properly access body condition score, cattle can thrive and produce in winter weather effectively and efficiently. Here are ways to implement BCS on your operation before winter arrives.
Conduct Regular Assessments
Fall is a critical time to assess BCS, but regular monitoring throughout the year is beneficial. This enables producers to identify trends and make timely interventions.
Involve Your Team
Educate your ranch employees and family members about the importance of BCS and train them to accurately score cattle. Consistency in scoring methods is key to obtaining reliable results.
Record & Track Data
Keeping records of BCS assessments can help track the progress of individual animals or groups and evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition plans.
Adjust Nutrition Plans Accordingly
Based on BCS results, modify feeding strategies to either increase or maintain body condition. This may involve changes in feed type, quantity or feeding frequency. Group similar body condition score cattle together for feeding and management purposes.
VitaFerm Can Help
VitaFerm offers a supplement ideal for your cows, no matter their body condition score. Amaferm® is the key additive in all VitaFerm products. It has more than 111 published and/or presented research studies proving its increase in digestibility and, ultimately, its impact on the animal. Not only will you be supplementing your cows’ vitamin and mineral needs, but you will be providing them with Amaferm.
The key point of Amaferm is using it as a tool to get more energy metabolized by the cow. More forage digestibility leads to less physical fill so she can eat more. More VFA production provides the extra energy needed for thermoregulation, which will also help keep her warm in the cold winter months.
All VitaFerm vitamin and mineral supplements are powered by Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to increase digestibility. By increasing digestibility, your cattle are automatically increasing their body temperature internally
“Amaferm can help unlock the nutritional value of all types of forages. Amaferm goes beyond stimulating the growth of beneficial rumen bacteria and can also promote rumen fungal growth and enzymatic activity. This increases fiber digestibility and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production by 17% and 16%, respectively. As such, more energy becomes available to your cows, leading to more performance,” Cassady said.
In addition to increasing body temperature, Amaferm also helps your feedstuffs and forages go further, helping decrease the overall cost.
“Research proves that cattle fed Amaferm synthesize 143 more grams of microbial protein each day. That’s enough protein equivalent to a pound of supplemented soybean meal available for the cow or heifer,” Cassady said. “Additional protein from Amaferm in a year-round supplemental program helps producers reduce the need for additional protein up to 40% annually, a huge continuous savings on feed costs.”
VitaFerm Provides Options
The VitaFerm brand offers various product lines for your cow herd’s reproductive success.
VitaFerm® ONE
VitaFerm ONE provides one solution to conveniently and consistently promote cattle performance in all seasons. All VitaFerm ONE products contain Amaferm to enhance digestibility. They meet or exceed nutrient requirements throughout the production cycle and are formulated with research-proven organic copper and zinc for enhanced bioavailability.
Several other formulas exist, in addition to the original ONE formula, which offers one solution for all seasons. ONE comes in both loose mineral form and a 35-pound block.
Free-choice mineral formulas also exist that are designed…
- To help control anaplasmosis
- Control flies
- Contains the patented HEAT technology.
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®
The Concept•Aid products promote effective, easy breeding when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding. All Concept•Aid products include Amaferm and organic copper, iodine, and zinc for maximum bioavailability, innate immunity, and hoof health. They also contain high levels of Vitamin E to support reproductive tract repair and milk quality.
Concept•Aid products come in numerous loose minerals and two tub formulas. There are formulas that help control anaplasmosis, grass tetany, and flies. Some formulas contain MOS (mannan oligosaccharides) or our HEAT® technology. Some contain a combination of the above.
To discover the Concept•Aid formula best for your management scenario, use our Concept•Aid Navigator.
VitaFerm® ReproMaxx™
VitaFerm ReproMaxx is a premium free-choice vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle designed to maximize reproductive success with research proven levels of Zinpro organic trace minerals.
ReproMaxx, launched the Summer of 2024, provides producers with another level to maximize their reproductive success with verified, research-proven levels of Zinpro organic zinc, copper and manganese. Still with Amaferm, ReproMaxx also supports colostrum quality and bull soundness and fertility.
Get Your VitaFerm Today
Are you ready to body condition score cattle properly now? We hope so! We want to continue to provide producers with answers as part of our commitment to care that comes full circle. And then, we hope your next step is to provide them a diet that includes VitaFerm powered by Amaferm.
At BioZyme, we give you options within the VitaFerm line. Not sure what to feed cows when it comes to the VitaFerm line? Check out our Concept•Aid Product Navigator.
Get your VitaFerm products from an authorized BioZyme dealer today. Our extensive dealer network is here to help you meet mineral needs.
