Full explanation
Assessed visually and by palpation: (1) head and neck; (2) ribs and spine (visibility, sharpness); (3) sacrum and pins; (4) tailhead and thigh fold. Per Edmonson-Lean-Stockdale (1989) the 1–5 scale with 0.25 increments. Phase targets: dry period 3.5–3.75, calving 3.25–3.5, peak lactation 2.75–3.0, mid-lactation 3.0–3.25, late lactation 3.25–3.5. Problems: (1) CALVING BCS >3.75 — obesity, elevated metabolic-disease risk, difficult calvings, anestrus 30–50 days longer; (2) PEAK BCS <2.5 with >1-point loss — reduced fertility, missed heats, shortened lactation-curve persistence. 50% of Ukrainian farms don't run regular BCS monitoring — costing UAH 200–500/cow/year. Modern automatic BCS systems — DeLaval BCS camera (3D scanner, USD 15–25k).