Body Condition Scoring

Garth Pig Stockmanship Standards

Print This Page

Body Condition Scoring

Section: Stockmanship Standards

Body Condition Scoring

Body Condition Scoring
Score Number	Condition	Description	Shape of body
5	Overfat	Hips and backbone heavily covered	Bulbous
4	Fat	Hips and backbone cannot be felt	Tending to bulge
3.5	Good condition	Hips and backbone only felt with difficulty	Tube shape
3	Normal	Hips and backbone only felt with firm palm pressure	Tube shaped
2.5	Somewhat thin	Hips and backbone felt without palm pressure	Tube shaped but flat (slab) sides
2	Thin	Hips and backbone noticeable and easily felt	Ribs and spine can be felt
1	Emaciated	Hips and backbone visible	Bone structure apparent (ribs and backbone)
Condition scores from left to right, 1: 2: 3: 4: 5 From: Managing Pig Health and the Treatment of Disease

Back fat meter may be more useful. However, note condition score and back fat correlation differs between different breeds

Extracted from Garth Pig Stockmanship Standards*
written by Dr John Carr, Iowa State University
To buy this book Click Here
*Published by 5M Enterprises Limited

Garth Pig Stockmanship Standards

Body Condition Scoring

Section: Stockmanship Standards

Body Condition Scoring

Wednesday 9th July