As fall sets in and feed prices continue to climb, I think we are all thinking about ways we can feed our cow herds for less. The first key to a cheap feed bill is to reduce the number of animals you are feeding. That means you only feed the ones you need to keep. 

Is the modern dairy cow less fertile than 20, 30 and 40 years ago? Some would say yes.

Body condition scoring (BCS) your cows may seem like a fruitless effort. You take the time to record all the data and maybe even sort the thin ones and fat ones out and feed them separately, but does it really pay for that extra work? Well, the answer to that question is: Yes.

Body condition scoring (BCS) is a simple and powerful technique that, by evaluating the thickness of subcutaneous fat and therefore its mobilization, evaluates animals’ energy balance, which is highly associated with health and performance.