Why condition scoring drifts
Body condition score drives the biggest decisions on a dairy farm — dry-off dates, feed allocation, mating and culling. The problem is rarely the scale, it's consistency. Two people score the same cow differently, and the same person scores differently in March than in August. Over a season that drift is enough to feed the wrong mob.
Herd Scan applies the same assessment to every photo. You still make the call — the app gives you a consistent starting point instead of a moving one.
How it works
- Photograph each cow separately. A clear side-on shot works best. Up to 20 animals per assessment.
- Herd Scan reads the animal. Frame, fill, muscling and fat cover over the ribs, hips, pins and tailhead.
- Get estimated BCS and liveweight. Plus a short comment on what the result means for that animal.
- Track the mob over time. Every assessment is saved against the herd, so you can see condition trending up or down.
Scoring scales: NZ, Australia and elsewhere
| Region | Scale | Reference body |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1-10 | DairyNZ |
| Australia | 1-8 | Dairy Australia |
| UK, Ireland, North America | 1-5 | AHDB / Teagasc / extension services |
Scale definitions and calving targets are published by DairyNZ and Dairy Australia. Herd Scan results are AI estimates and are indicative only.
Common questions
- What body condition score scale does Herd Scan use?
- Herd Scan reports estimated body condition on the New Zealand 1-10 scale used by DairyNZ. Australian dairy farmers commonly use a 1-8 scale, and North America and Europe use 1-5, so the app can present the estimate against the scale you work with.
- Can you body condition score a cow from a photo?
- Yes — condition scoring is a visual assessment of fat cover over the ribs, hips, pins and tailhead, so a clear side-on photo carries most of the information a scorer uses in the paddock. Herd Scan reads frame, fill and fat cover from the photo and returns an estimated score. It is an estimate and does not replace hands-on assessment.
- How many cows can I score in one assessment?
- Up to 20 animal photos per assessment, taken with the camera or picked from your gallery.
- What body condition score should a dairy cow be at calving?
- DairyNZ publishes calving targets of BCS 5.0 for mixed-age cows and 5.5 for first and second calvers on the 1-10 scale. Check the current DairyNZ guidance for your system and confirm targets with your vet or consultant.
- Does Herd Scan work for Australian dairy herds?
- Yes. The app works anywhere you have a phone, and results can be read against the Australian 1-8 scale as well as the New Zealand 1-10 scale.