Comparison of Body Condition Score with Milk Yield in Dairy Cattle in and around Khanapara, Assam – A Cross‑Sectional Study

Background: Body Condition Score (BCS) is a subjective measure of a dairy cow‘s energy reserves and is known to be associated with milk yield, reproductive performance, and herd health. In Assam, milk productivity is significantly lower than the national average, yet there is no local data on the BCS‑milk yield relationship. This study assessed BCS and its correlation with daily milk yield in smallholder dairy farms in Khanapara, Kamrup district. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 85 dairy farmers across four villages of Khanapara. BCS was assessed using a standard 5‑point scale (in 0.25 increments) on 187 lactating crossbred cows, and individual daily milk yield was recorded over three consecutive days. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and one‑way ANOVA. Results: The mean BCS of the study population was 2.45 ± 0.52. Cows with a BCS of 3.0–3.5 had the highest mean daily milk yield (8.47 ± 1.32 L/day), whereas cows with a BCS ≤ 2.5 produced only 4.26 ± 0.98 L/day (P < 0.001). Only 18.7 % of cows were in the “ideal” BCS range (3.0–3.5), while 68.4 % were under‑conditioned (BCS ≤ 2.5). A moderate positive correlation was observed between BCS and milk yield (r = 0.58, P < 0.001). The average daily milk yield from BCS ≤ 2.5, 2.5–3.0, and ≥ 3.0 groups were 4.26, 6.14, and 7.95 L, respectively (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Under‑conditioned cows (BCS ≤ 2.5) are highly prevalent in Khanapara and have significantly lower milk yields compared to cows in the ideal BCS range. This finding points to nutritional inadequacy as a major constraint on dairy productivity. Simple training on BCS monitoring, coupled with targeted nutritional advice, could help farmers improve both body condition and milk output.