Attachment 5 - Henneke Body Condition System.pdf

Henneke Body Condition System1 Condition Neck Withers Loin Tailhead Ribs Shoulder 1 Poor Bone structure easily noticeable, animal extremely emaciated, no fatty tissue can be felt

Bone structure easily noticeable

Spinous processes project prominently

Tailhead, (pinbone) and hook bones project prominently

No fat cover over ribs.

Bone structure easily noticeable

Very Thin

Fairly discernable, animal emaciated

Faintly discernable

Slight fat covering over base of spinous process.

Transvers processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded.

Spinous processes are prominent

Tailhead prominent

Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernable.

Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernable.

3 Thin Neck accentuated

Wither accentuated

Fat buildup halfway on spinous processes but easily discernable.

Transverse processes cannot be felt

Tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified.

Hook bones appear rounded but are still easily discernable.

Pin bones not distinguishable

Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernable.

Shoulder accentuated

Moderately Thin

Neck not obviously thin

Withers not obviously thin

Negative crease along back

Prominence depends on conformation;

fat can be felt.

Hook bones not discernable

Faint outline discernable

Shoulder not obviously thin

Moderate

Neck blends smoothly into body

Wither rounded over spinous processes

Back level Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy

Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt

Shoulder blends smoothly into body

Moderately Fleshy

Fat beginning to be deposited

Fat beginning to be deposited

May have slight positive crease down back

Fat around tailhead feels soft

Fat over ribs feels spongy

Fat beginning to be deposited

Fleshy

Fat deposited along neck

Fat deposited along withers

May have positive crease down back

Fat around tailhead is soft

Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat

Fat deposited behind shoulder

Condition Neck Withers Loin Tailhead Ribs Shoulder Fat

Noticeable thickening of neck

Area along withers filled with fat

Positive crease down back

Tailhead fat very soft. Fat deposited along inner buttocks

Difficult to feel ribs

Area behind shoulder filled flush with body

Extremely Fat

Bulging fat Bulging fat Obvious positive crease down back

Building fat around tailhead. Fat along inner buttocks may rub together.

Flank filled in flush

Patchy fat appearing over ribs

Bulging fat

1 Henneke, DR; Potter, GD; Kreider, JL; Yeates, BF (October 1983). “Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares.” Equine Veterinary Journal. 15 (4): 371–2