Cow

Body condition can provide information about an animal's energy reserves and can be considered alongside feeding, reproductive, health, and production records. It should not be interpreted in isolation because nutrition, disease, parasitism, pregnancy, lactation, and other circumstances may affect condition. USDA agricultural research has examined body-condition scoring in beef cows as a herd-management tool and its relationship with reproductive performance.

Records of prior calvings, age, pregnancy status, lactation history, body condition, breeding dates, and calf information can help place an individual cow's condition and reproductive history in context. First-parity females may still have nutritional demands associated with continued growth in addition to pregnancy or lactation, while mature cows may have different production and reproductive histories. USDA agricultural research has examined parity and stage of production in relation to nutrient demands, body condition, and reproductive performance in beef females.

Useful materials may include individual identification records, breeding and pregnancy records, calving histories, photographs and video, body-condition records, feeding and grazing information, sale and purchase documents, movement records, herd inventories, handling records, production information, and relevant veterinary records. Original identification documentation can be particularly important when ownership, animal identity, or movement is disputed.