Adjustment for Thin Daily Ration Ewes with a Score of 1 Period Desired Score (air dry, lb.) to Low 2Adjust feed for "fat" (score 4) and "obese"(score 5) ewes only during early gestation by reducing intake to 75-80% of normal. 10-15% weight loss can be tolerated. For a 150-lb. ewe to move up on condition score, she will need to gain 5 to 10 pounds.
Maintenance 2 3.2 good hay, Add 0.3 lb. hay, 0.3 lb. equiv.. pasture grain, better pasture Breeding 3 3.0 good hay, Add 0.3 lb. hay, 0.6 lb. equiv. pasture+ grain, better pasture 0.5 grain Early gestation 2+ 3.5 good hay, Add 0.3 lb. hay, 0.3 lb. equiv. pasture grain, good pasture Late gestation 3 4.5 good hay, Add 1.0-1.5 lb. grain 0.5-1.0 lb. grain Lambing 3+ 4.0 good hay, Add 1.0-1.5 lb. grain 1.0-1.5 lb. grain Weaning 2 5.0 excellent hay, Add 1.0-1.5 lb. grain 1.0-2.0 lb. grain
The five condition scores (figure 3) are:
Condition Score 1: Very thin Spinous process very prominent and sharp;
transverse process also easily felt and sharp; fingers can be pushed easily
under ends; loin muscle shallow, concave; no fat over muscle, under skin.
Condition Score 2: Thin Spinous process prominent but less sharp;
transverse process smoother on ends; fingers can be pushed with little pressure
under ends; loin muscle more depth and fullness; no discernible fat covering.
Condition Score 3: Average Spinous process easily felt with finger
pressure but smooth not sharp; transverse process smooth and fat covered;
firm pressure needed to push fingers under edge; loin muscle full with cover
of .15-.20 inches of fat.
Condition Score 4: Fat Spinous process can be felt with considerable
finger pressure; transverse process cannot be felt, ends covered
with fat; loin muscle full with cover of .25-.35 inches fat.
Condition Score 5: Very fat Spinous process cannot be felt; back
broad with hollow; transverse process cannot be felt; loin very wide and
thick over loin edge; evidence of fat around dock extending forward on rump.
Fat covering over .4 inch over loin muscle, 1.0 inch or more over rib.
Scoring illustrations above from "Body Condition Scoring of Sheep"
by Dr. Terry Boundy in The Progressive Sheep Breeder, pp. 22-24.
Spring 1982 Shoreham Vermont
File: Animal Science--Sheep
Prepared by Dan Morrical,, extension sheep specialist, and Gene Hettel,,
communications specialist, agriculture.
and justice for all The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service's programs
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Pm-989-14 I Revised I February 1986