Condition |
Neck |
Withers |
Loin |
|
Ribs |
Shoulders |
1
Poor |
Bone structure easily noticeable. Animal extremely
emaciated, no fatty tissue can be felt |
Bone structure easily noticeable |
Prominent spinous processes. |
Tailhead, hooks and pins project prominently |
Ribs project prominently |
Noticeable bone structure on shoulder |
2
Very Thin |
Neck faintly discernible. Animal emaciated. |
Withers faintly discernible. |
Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes.
Transverse processes of lumber vertebrae feel rounded Spinous processes
are prominent. |
Tailhead, hooks and pins project prominently |
Ribs prominent. |
Shoulder faintly discernible |
3
Thin |
Neck accentuated |
Withers accentuated |
Fat built up about halfway on spinous processes.
Transverse processes cannot be felt. |
Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot
be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but easily discernible.
Spinous processes easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable. |
Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernible. |
Shoulder accentuated. |
4
Moderately Thin |
Neck not obviously thin. |
Withers not obviously thin. |
Spinous process (ridge) along back |
Tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat
can be felt around it. Hook bones not discernible. |
Faint outline of ribs discernible. |
Shoulder not obviously thin. |
5
Moderate |
Neck blends smoothly into body |
Withers appear rounded over spinous
processes |
Back is level |
Fat around tailhead beginning to
feel spongy |
Ribs cannot be visually distinguished
but can be easily felt |
Shoulder blends smoothly into body |
6
Moderate to Fleshy |
Fat beginning to be deposited |
Fat beginning to be deposited |
May have slight crease down back.
|
Fat around tailhead feels soft |
Fat over ribs feels spongy |
Fat beginning to be deposited |
7
Fleshy |
Fat deposited along neck. |
Fat deposited along withers. |
May have crease down back. |
Fat around tailhead feels soft. |
Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling
between ribs with fat. |
Fat deposited behind shoulders. |
8
Fat |
Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat deposited along
inner buttocks. |
Area along withers filled with fat. Fat deposited
along inner buttocks. |
Crease down back. |
Fat around tailhead very soft |
Difficult to palpate ribs. |
Area behind shoulder filled in flush |
9
Extremely Fat |
Bulging fat |
Bulging fat |
Obvious crease down back |
Bulging fat around tailhead. Fat along inner buttocks
may rub together. Flank filled in flush |
Patchy fat appearing over ribs |
Bulging fat. |
Henneke et al., 1983. Eq. Vet. J. 15:371.