Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part XXI - Animals and Animal Health
Chapter 21 - Animal Care Standards for Bovine, Equine, Poultry, Porcine, Ovine, and Caprine (Formerly Chapter 31)
Section XXI-2105 - Beef and Dairy Cattle (Formerly Section 3105)

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XXI-2105

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Body Condition Scoring (BCS) of Cattle

1.
a. BCS - a standardized, objective method of evaluating the body condition of cattle regardless of breed, age, gender, or body type.

b. Body Condition - a measure of fat cover and scores are indicative of energy reserves in the body.

2. Several conditions may affect body condition:
a. lack of proper nutrition;

b. severe parasitism;

c. infectious disease;

d. older animals.

3. Starvation shall not be ascertained by body condition alone but may be determined by amount of feed and forage available.

4. Consultation with a licensed veterinarian and or a knowledgeable livestock professional may be suitable in remedying the situation.

5. Body condition shall be evaluated by visual appraisal and by feeling six areas of the animal's body and then assigning an overall score.

6. Beef cattle scores range from one (severely emaciated) to nine (very obese).

7. Dairy cattle scores range from one (emaciated) to five (obese).

8. BCS below two for beef or dairy scoring indicate emaciated cattle.

B. BQA guidelines may be used as a standard reference for all cattle producers (beef and dairy) as a reference in areas of cattle management and record keeping.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:2095.1.

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