Paul D. Siciliano, PhD Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado
| CONDITION | CHARACTERISTICS |
|
1 – Poor |
Animal extremely emaciated, no fatty tissue can be felt, ribs projecting prominently, bone structure easily noticeable. |
| 2 – Very Thin | Animal emaciated, ribs prominent, faintly notice bone structure, vertebrae prominent. |
| 3 – Thin | Slight fat cover over ribs, ribs easily discernible. |
| 4 – Moderately Thin |
Faint outline of ribs, negative crease along back, neck, shoulder & withers are not obviously thin. |
| 5 – Moderate | Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt, fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy, back is level over loin, shoulder blends smoothly into body, withers rounded. |
| 6 – Moderately Fleshy | Fat beginning to be deposited, fat over ribs and tailhead feels spongy, may have slight positive crease down back over loin. |
| 7 – Fleshy | Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat, positive crease down back over loin, fat deposited along neck, withers, tailhead and area behind shoulders. |
| 8 – Fat | Fat deposited along inner buttocks, difficult to feel ribs, thickening of neck, fat withers, tailhead and area behind shoulders, positive crease down back over loin. |
|
9 – Obese
|
Bulging fat, patchy fat appearing over ribs, obvious positive crease down back, fat along inner buttocks may rub together, flank filled in flush. |
