The importance of monitoring ewe body condition score
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe, highlights the importance of body condition scoring your ewe flock, explaining that “with the right score, there is always a better chance of winning the match.”
Most mid-season flocks have just completed weaning, with ewes on a restricted diet. There is often a tendency to abandon them for a period after a hard year. While a reduced feed intake may be a help in drying up ewes, prolonging it over a period of more than two to three weeks might be detrimental depending on the condition the ewes are in.
Scoring is used a lot nowadays. We have ACRES scoring, Bord Bia Audit score, Euro Stars and now talk of clover scores. What I want to concentrate on here is the most important one for a sheep farmer - body condition scoring.
Condition score is a very practical means of assessing the ‘fatness’ or ‘thinness’ of the animal. In scientific terms, this is the level of body reserves as muscle and fat tissue deposited or laid down over skeleton structure. A reference scale is used from 0 (very thin) to 5 (over fat) in 1 unit intervals. On this scale, one unit in body condition equates to approximately 12-15% of ewe body weight. This gives a real figure for flock status rather than ewes being in good or poor state or having light versus heavy ewes.
The mature weight is also very breed related. If we take a typical lowland mature ewe weighting 80kg, a 1 unit of condition equates to approximately 10-12kg. Consider how long it will take to put this weight on if required, especially if the ewe has done a good job of rearing her lambs and is maybe thin at weaning.
The process
The process itself is very hands-on. Handle the ewe along the top and side of the back bone in the loin area immediately behind the last rib and above the kidneys.
- Feel the degree of sharpness or roundness of the spinous processes using the finger tips.
- Feel the tips of the transverse processes using finger pressure for sharpness or roundness.
- Press the fingers into the area between the spinous and transverse processes to determine the eye muscle and fat cover.
Figure 1: Feeling the tips of the spinous and transverse processes in the loin area
Most ewes will fall somewhere between a condition score of 2 to 4. When handling the ewes, these scores can be described as follows:
- Score 2: The spinous and transverse processes are prominent but smooth. It is possible to press the fingers under the transverse processes with some pressure. The loin will only have a moderate cover.
- Score 3: The spinous processes are smooth and rounded and are detectable with a little pressure. The transverse processes are smooth and rounded and the ends are only detectable with firm pressure. The loin feels fuller.
- Score 4: The spinous processes can be detected only with pressure as a hard line. The transverse processes cannot be detected. The eye muscle is full with a moderate degree of fat cover. The loin is full with a good fat cover.
The score number itself is more relevant as a means of comparison but with practice some experienced operators can subdivide scores into 0.25 or 0.5.
Ewe body condition score at mating
Ewe body condition at mating affects litter size and weaning rate. Mating ewes at condition score of less than 2.5 increases the risk of barrenness, further reducing weaning rate. For lowland ewes, the aim is to have them in a condition score of 3.5 when joining with the ram.
Some farmers may have opted for the Action/Task of Body Condition Scoring Ewes and appropriate follow-on management (as appropriate) in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme.
This action MUST be carried out TWICE within the timeframes below and the assessment dates MUST take place eight weeks apart.
- First BCS Assessment MUST be carried out between 15th April – 15th July 2024.
- Second BCS Assessment MUST be carried out between 1st August – 15th October 2024.
Figure 2: A guide on body condition scores
Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
It’s also important to be aware the average condition score for the entire flock may be reasonable, but there could still be issues. It is the ewes at each end of range that are the problem cases, especially the thinner ones which need additional attention. So if a flock of ewes are in ‘good’ body condition for mating, can we be sure they are all at a condition score 3.5—very unlikely. With the right score there is always a better chance of winning the match!
Also read: Sheep Schemes: Welfare, Improvement or Both?