
|
CONDITION |
NECK |
WITHERS |
SHOULDER |
RIBS |
LOIN |
TAILHEAD |
|
1 |
Bone structure easily noticeable |
Bone structure easily noticeable |
Bone structure easily noticeable |
Ribs protruding prominently |
Spinous processes projecting prominently |
Tailhead, pinbones, and hook bones projecting prominently |
|
2 |
Bone structure faintly discernible |
Bone structure faintly discernible |
Bone structure faintly discernible |
Ribs prominent |
Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes. Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes are prominent |
Tailhead prominent |
|
3 |
Neck accentuated |
Withers accentuated |
Shoulder accentuated |
Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernible |
Fat buildup halfway on spinous processes, but easily discernible. Traverse processes cannot be felt |
Tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but are still easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable. |
|
4 |
Neck not obviously thin |
Withers not obviously thin |
Shoulder not obviously thin |
Faint outline of ribs discernible |
Negative crease (peaked appearance) along back |
Prominence depends on conformation. Fat can be felt. Hook bones not discernible |
|
5 Ideal weight |
Neck blends smoothly into body |
Withers rounded over spinous processes |
Shoulder blends smoothly into body |
Ribs cannot be visually distinguished, but can be easily felt |
Back is level |
Fat around tailhead beginning to feel soft |
|
6 |
Fat beginning to be deposited |
Fat beginning to be deposited |
Fat beginning to be deposited |
Fat over ribs feels spongy |
May have a slight positive crease (a groove) down back |
Fat around tailhead feels soft |
|
7 |
Fat deposited along neck |
Fat deposited along withers |
Fat deposited behind shoulder |
Individual ribs can be felt with pressure, but noticeable fat filling between ribs |
May have a positive crease down the back |
Fat around tailhead is soft |
|
8 |
Noticeable thickening of neck |
Area along withers filled with fat |
Area behind shoulder filled in flush with body |
Difficult to feel ribs |
Positive crease down the back |
Fat around tailhead very soft |
|
9 |
Bulging fat |
Bulging fat |
Bulging fat |
Patchy fat appearing over ribs |
Obvious crease down the back |
Bulging fat around tailhead |