Add a photo from behind and one from the side for each cow, plus any fresh dung pats. You'll get a UK 1–5 condition estimate and dung score for each, with a confidence level, set against the target for where your herd is in its year – and a reading of the group as a whole.
These are estimates, not measurements. Scores come from an AI looking at your photos. They can be out by half a score or more, especially on long-coated native breeds, which usually look fuller than they handle. They are not veterinary advice.
The standard method is hands-on, at the loin and tail head. Handle any cow before you make a decision about her, and if you're worried about an animal's health or welfare, contact your vet.
Two photos per cow, one straight after the other so they stay paired:
Catch her standing square on level ground. Low light from the side shows hollows best – early morning or evening; overcast is fine. Avoid midday sun, shooting into the light, and soaking-wet coats. Walk closer rather than zooming.
Dung: fresh pats from directly above, with a boot in the frame for scale. Three or four pats from across the group, not just one.
On a phone, tap Take photo to open the camera. On a computer, choose, drop or paste (Ctrl/⌘ + V) – pasted photos fill the next empty box. Photos and results are kept on this device until you press Start again.
| Score | Hands-on, loin and tail head | What shows in a photo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short ribs sharp to the touch; deep cavity at tail head, no fat | Spine, short ribs, hooks and pins stand out; hollows either side of the tail |
| 2 | Short ribs felt individually but rounded; shallow cavity, pins prominent | Short-rib shelf visible; hooks and pins defined; tail head sunken |
| 3 | Short ribs felt only with firm pressure; fat either side of tail head | Loin smooth; hooks visible but rounded; tail head area filled |
| 4 | Short ribs can't be felt; tail head filled, folds of fat | Back flat or rounded; hooks barely seen; soft rounds beside the tail head |
| 5 | Bone structure not apparent; tail head almost buried | Blocky and rounded throughout |
One full score is roughly 13% of bodyweight – about 90 kg on a 700 kg cow.
| Point in the year | Spring calving | Autumn calving |
|---|---|---|
| Weaning | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Housing | 3.0–3.5 | 3.0 |
| Calving | 2.5–3.0 | 3.0 |
| Turnout | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Breeding | 2.5–3.0 | 2.5–3.0 |
Single-figure targets are shown as a band of ±0.25. Change condition gradually through mid-pregnancy, and not at all in the last month before calving.
| Score | What you see | What it usually means at grass |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watery, no form, splashes | Very lush, leafy forage; feed passing too fast. Rule out illness or parasites. |
| 2 | Runny, custard-like, under 2.5 cm high | Young, leafy regrowth; protein running ahead of fibre. |
| 3 | Porridge-like pat with a dimpled centre | Good balance for the class of stock. |
| 4 | Thicker, stacks over 5 cm, rings visible | Maturing, fibrous forage; protein getting short. Fine for dry, pregnant cows. |
| 5 | Firm stacked balls or biscuit-like | Low-protein, stemmy or dormant forage, or short of water. |
Dung reflects the last two to four days; condition, the last one to three months. The ideal bands shown – about 2.5–3.5 for cows in milk, 3–4 for dry, pregnant cows – are a rule of thumb.