Not able to see or feel fat or muscle between skin and bones. Ribs, spine and pelvic bones prominent. Extreme loss of muscle mass
Poor
1.5
Thin
2.0
Slight cover over bony structure. Ribs and spine still visible and their outline is easily felt. Less muscle loss.
Borderline
2.5
Optimal (for an adult huacaya)
3.0
Overall smooth appearance with slight fat cover over ribs and other bones. Ribs and spine can be felt with slight pressure. No muscle loss
High moderate
3.5
Overweight (for an adult huacaya)
4.0
Fleshy appearance with visible coverage of fat. Moderate to firm pressure necessary to feel bones under skin. This is the ideal score for young huacaya under 1 year of age
Fat (for an adult huacaya)
4.5
Obese (for an adult huacaya)
5.0
Excessive fat cover over entire body with smooth rounded appearance. Impossible to feel any bones. Completely normal for cria under 6 months of age and all suri
Front view
Rear view
How the spine feels
Prominent “V” keel
Gradual flattening of sternum
Moderate fat
Sternum bulging with fat
Moderate fat
Gradual filling of “V”
Acutely inverted “V”
Inguinal area bulging with fat
Deep depression
Obvious depression
Smooth concave curve
Smooth slope
Nearly flat
Rounded
Position for taking BCS
Some alpacas are naturally thin, and some are more inclined to be fat - just like
people! However, the body reserves of alpacas provide an important source of energy
at critical stages of production such as mating, late pregnancy, mating or simply
getting through the cold of the winter. Lack of body reserves can also indicate
that an alpaca is unwell so one of the most important things we as alpaca breeders
need to understand is body weight. It is so easy to get fooled into thinking that
our nice fluffy alpaca has plenty of body reserves, but beware - looks can be deceiving!
The simplest way to monitor the nutritional status of the animals in your herd is
to get your thumb and finger on either side of their backbone near the last rib which
is just above and behind the shoulder of the front legs (see arrow on photo). What
you are feeling for is known as the body score, body condition or body condition
score. Constant practice at body condition scoring every time you handle your alpacas
will make sure that you score each animal consistently.
Ideal body condition scores (all suri and all cria as in table above)
Non-breeding females, non-working males and wethers should have a BCS of about 2.5
to 3
Growing animals should have a BCS of 2.5 to 3.5 but care must be taken to feed them
adequate, good quality protein. If this doesn’t happen, they will gain weight by
depositing fat but they will not grow (see alpaca nutrition)
Working males should be maintained in the region of BCS 2.5 to 3. Studs with a higher
BCS will not work as well, be more susceptible to heat stress and may even be less
fertile
Non-lactating early and mid pregnant females should have a BCS of 2.5+ with the aim
of them having a BCS of 3 to 3.5 by the time they give birth
Lactation is the most demanding time for females and generally at the peak of lactation
they are also remated. When their cria are weaned, mid-pregnant females that are
less BCS 2.5 should be fed good quality pasture or supplemented to gain weight gradually
(see alpaca nutrition)
Above all, beware of sudden changes in body score and if you have an alpaca with
a BCS of 1 it requires immediate attention and that could well mean the vet.
