Body condition scoring in dairy cattle provides a key welfare indicator, with both under- and over-condition associated with metabolic disease, reproductive failure, and reduced longevity.
Body condition management is a fundamental welfare priority in dairy production. The biological demands of high-yielding dairy breeds create a metabolic tightrope that requires skilled nutritional management to navigate. Cows that lose excessive body condition suffer from metabolic disease, reduced immunity, and chronic discomfort. Selecting for moderate-yielding breeds or improving nutritional systems can reduce this welfare burden.