ION
1.
2.
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 tissues can be felt.
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 and neck structures
faintly discernible.
3.
THIN: Fat build-up about halfway on spinous processes,
transverse processes cannot be felt. Slight fat cover over ribs.
Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible. Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified.
Hook bones appear rounded, but easily discernible. 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.
ALONG NECK
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 a 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.
9.
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.
EXTREMELY FAT: Obvious crease down back. Patch 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.