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           Score                                                                       Description

• 1)  Poor ~  Animal extremely emaciated.  Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins projecting prominently.  Bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable.  No fatty tissue can be felt.
• 2)  Very Thin ~  Animal emaciated.  Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded.  Spinous processes ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins prominent.  Withers, shoulders, neck structures faintly discernible.
• 3)  Thin ~  Fat built up about halfway on spinous processes, transverse processes cannot be felt.  Slight fat covers the ribs.  Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible.  Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified.  Pin bones not distinguishable.  Withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.
• 4)  Moderately Thin ~ Negative crease along back.  Faint outline of ribs discernible.  Tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it.  Hook bones not discernible.  Withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
• 5)  Moderate ~ Back level. Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt.  Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy.  Withers appear rounded over spinous processes.  Shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
• 6)  Moderate to Fleshy ~ May have slight crease down back.  Fat over ribs feels spongy.  Fat around tailhead feels soft.  Fat beginning to be deposited along the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides of the neck.
• 7)  Fleshy ~ May have crease down back.  Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat.  Fat around tailhead is soft.  Fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along the neck.
• 8)  Fat ~ Crease down back. Difficult to feel ribs.  Fat around tailhead very soft.  Area along withers filled with fat.  Area behind shoulder filled in flush.  Noticeable thickening of neck.  Fat deposited along inner buttocks.
• 9)  Extremely Fat ~ Obvious crease down back.  Patchy fat appearing over ribs.  Bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck.  Fat along inner buttocks may rub together.  Flank filled in flush.

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