Livestock Evaluation Flashcards
What is the criteria for evaluating breeding heifers and bulls?
1.) Structural correctness
2.) volume and capacity
3.) muscle
4.) balance and basic build
5.) femininity and masculinity
What is the criteria for evaluating market steers and heifers?
1.) muscle (product)
2.) degree of finish (fat)
3.) volume and capacity
4.) structural correctness
5.) balance and basic build
Structural correctness of cattle
-very important priority and trait when evaluating breeding animals
-indicator of longevity, durability, soundness, and can affect performance
-evaluate: feet, pasterns, hocks, knees, rump, shoulder
Post legged
extremely straight hind legs
-hock angle is too small
Sickle hocked
extremely curved hind legs
-hock angle is too big
Is post legged or sickle hocked better?
sickle hocked
Bowlegged (pigeon-toed)
-rear view
-hocks point outwards
Cow hocked (splay footed)
-rear view
-hocks point inwards
Over at the knee (buck-kneed)
knees appear slightly over line from shoulder to hoof
Back at the knee (calf-kneed)
knees appear slightly behind the line from shoulder to hoof
Weak pasterns
pasterns are set closer to the ground
Splay footed (toed out)
-front view
-toes point outward
Pigeon-toed (toed in)
-front view
-toes point inwards
Volume and capacity of cattle
-mainly concerned with fetal growth and development
1.) Body width
2.) Depth of body
3.) length of body
4.) base width
Balance and basic build of cattle
1.) levelness of topline
2.) balance between body width, depth, and length
3.) smoothness of front end
4.) blending of shoulder, ribs, and hip
