- Hi, my name is Katherine Davies.
I'm a Development Officer with the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Today I'm going to be talking you through the process
of condition scoring sheep.
Condition scoring is an important part
of the process in managing sheep nutrition.
It's quick and easy and can be done in the race
while you're doing other jobs.
It's really important to get your hands on
the sheep to condition score,
rather than just visually assess,
because a lot of things can be hidden
by the long wool.
You only need to condition score 25 sheep
from the mob to get an average.
And you can pick these randomly from the middle of the mob
as they're running through the race.
Make sure that the sheep are in a standing
or relaxed position.
They're not in a crush or a clamp,
and they're not being crushed by other sheep,
as this can give you a misleading condition score.
To assess a condition score,
we're looking at three main things.
The backbone, the eye muscle
that runs alongside the backbone,
and the short ribs.
And we're looking at how much muscle and fat
cover over these areas.
To do a condition score, place your thumb on top
of the backbone,
your palm over the eye muscle,
and your fingertips on the end of the short ribs.
Move your hands back and forth over these areas
and try and paint a picture in your mind
of the level of muscle and fat cover.
As well as how full the eye muscle is.
Condition score one will have no fat and very little muscle.
The bones of the backbone and the short ribs
will be very pointy and you'll easily be able
to feel in between them.
The eye muscle will be very small and they'll be
a hollow from the spine down to the short ribs.
At this condition score the sheep will be prone to disease
and at risk of death.
Condition score two will still have no fat
but will have a small amount of muscle along the backbone.
You'll still be able to feel in between
each of the short ribs and backbones
but it won't feel as bony.
There will still be a definite hollow
from the backbone to the short ribs
but not as much as condition score one
because the eye muscle has filled out a little.
This is the least acceptable condition for thrift.
It can be acceptable for dry sheep
when the feed are short but it's a clear indication
that nutrition requires attention.
Ewes in less than condition score two and a half
will have decreased production and reproduction
and increased mortality.
Breeding ewes should not be below condition score two.
Condition score three will have a good level
of muscle and fat cover.
The backbone and short ribs will have rounded ends
and you shouldn't be able to feel much in between
each of the bones as there is a good level
of fat and muscle covering.
The eye muscle will be filled out
and it will make more of a straight line
from the backbone to the short ribs.
Between two and a half and three and a half
is a good condition score for merino ewes
from joining to lambing
with condition score three being the aim.
It's also an ideal condition score for young sheep.
Condition score four will have lots of muscle and fat cover.
You'll feel the backbone and the short ribs
if you press but won't be able to feel in between the bones.
The eye muscle will be full, making it rounded out
from the backbone to the short ribs.
Ewes in more than condition score three and a half
will have increased production but
decreased profitability overall.
These are tending towards over fat.
Condition score five will have an excessive
level of muscle and fat cover.
You won't be able to feel the backbone
or short ribs at all, even if you press.
The eye muscle will be very full,
making it very round from the
backbone down to the short ribs.
You can record the condition score
of each sheep either on a paper recording sheet
or on the sheep condition score app on your smart phone.
This will give you the average of the mob
and allow you to make decisions based on that.
The more you condition score your sheep,
the more calibrated, accurate, and quicker you'll become.
You'll even be able to add in half scores.
Sheep should be condition scored
throughout the year to ensure they're meeting
their condition score targets
and aren't becoming too thin or too fat.
It's much more efficient and profitable
for ewes to maintain weight than to lose it
and have to regain it.
Key times for condition scoring throughout the year
including weaning, joining, and scanning.
You can then adjust your feeding regime
based on your condition score targets.
Have a look at some other videos in this series
including how to include how to assess
pasture feed on offer and how to feed budget.
(instrumental music)