Too fat? The role of body condition in maternal livestock in areas with extreme seasonal variability

It’s no secret that commercial UK sheep and beef farms are hampered by high external inputs and labour costs. Coupled with declining government financial support, increased cost of production and market unknowns, there has never been a better time to reassess our animals and systems.

Winter in the UK is the most costly time of the year due to high feed requirements. This couldn’t be truer than in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. With our long, growthy summer days and longer, dark, wet winters, managing the extremes of our pasture growth curve is challenging.  Having robust and resilient animals is key to meeting this challenge.

For decades we have known that good Body Condition Score (BCS) is essential in cows and ewes at key times in the year. Simplified, BCS is the physical and/or visual scoring of fat and muscle across the lower back of an animal.  Recommendations exist for how to condition score and what score is desired at key times in the reproduction cycle. 

Good BCS is directly linked with better animal health, increased fertility and reduced feed requirements. These three things alone are enough to merit more attention on the subject.  

Not all animals are created equal and some are able to both put on and hold condition more easily than others – traditionally known as ‘easy fleshing’ animals. Significant worldwide research into the genetic component of BCS puts the trait at around 25% heritability. In practical terms this means genetic gain can be made relatively easily through recording and selection.

I visited commercial and pedigree cattle and sheep producers in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and the UK. Those who had taken on board the message of actively selecting for body condition reported a number of productivity and animal welfare benefits.

BCS can be manipulated by environmental nutrition and it is therefore a trait that is easily masked by preferential or excessive feeding.  It was, almost universally, acknowledged by those I visited that the pedigree industry have not done enough to provide commercial farmers with bulls and rams fit for commercial environments. Though, equally, commercial farmers don’t do themselves any favours by supporting the status quo. It is essential that breeding stock are subjected to some nutritional and environmental pressure if we are to identify those with the genetic ability to put on and hold body condition. 

Those I visited reported that higher BCS became most valuable during tough periods – in either difficult winters or droughts. As our climate becomes more unpredictable, the ability of an animal to ride out the extremes will become more important. Though even in a normal season the genetic propensity to hold condition still presents plenty of opportunities, including increasing stocking rates.

With this knowledge in mind and an eye on continuing research using new technology and information, it is apparent that there exists significant opportunity within the beef and sheep sectors to build herds and flocks fit for the future by prioritising body condition as part of the selection process.