Group Feeding Beef Cattle Based on Frame

Introduction

The height of a beef animal at a given age tin exist used equally a mensurate of its maturity type, or growth curve potential. It may assistance the breeder to determine where animals best fit into a breeding plan—whether, for example, a balderdash is meliorate suited to producing vealers or steers. Height can likewise exist used as an aid to predict the growth and fattening pattern of a animal, besides as its mature size. In this style, frame size can be a helpful offshoot to other functioning records when selecting stock. Still, the best prediction of weight and performance of resultant progeny from breeding stock is obtained by using weight records expressed as 'estimated convenance values' (EBVs).

The meridian of the animal has as well been found to be a useful indicator of animal operation in the feedlot—as an indicator of maturity. Taller animals mostly grow more quickly and lay down less fat than do shorter animals (McKiernan et al. 1998). This is especially important when selecting feeder steers to exist fattened for the long-fed Japanese trade.

A user-friendly manner to discuss and evaluate top is in units of 'frame score' based on the peak over the hips at a given age (refer to Tabular array 3 and Tabular array iv).

No one frame size for an animal will be all-time for all feed resources, breeding system and market specification. Overall economic return should determine the optimum frame size for individual situations.

Frame score is a convenient style of describing the skeletal size of cattle. Most animals should maintain the same frame score throughout their life, while bodily height increases with age. This allows one frame score value to be used regardless of when the animal was evaluated. All the same, the frame score can change for animals that mature earlier or later on than average animals within their frame group.

Environmental factors can also alter an animal'south growth rate from its genetic capability, and hence can alter its eventual height. Diet level is a major factor. Cattle fed less than adequate nutrition will abound more slowly and attain a smaller size than that which the tables indicate, while cattle fed extremely loftier levels will grow faster but by and large not much taller than the height indicated in the tables.

Frame scores should exist used only as guides because inaccuracies tin can occur due to diet, every bit described above, just besides due to other factors such equally:

• inaccuracy of measurement (measuring the wrong spot on the back, or cattle not standing on level basis);
• angulation of joints—straight hocks and straight through the stifle joint can add considerably to the top of the animal, but not change its maturity pattern; nevertheless, information technology tin considerably reduce the functionality of the beast.

How to evaluate body/frame type

The recommended point for linear height measurement is a point directly over the hips from a level surface.

Body blazon (frame) scores are made on a 1–11 basis. These body type scores were adult at the University of Wisconsin in the U.s. and are applicative to all breeds of cattle.

The frame score charts (Table 3 and Tabular array 4) contained in this publication were adapted from a fact canvass from Kansas State Academy; however, they are understood to be universal. Almost British breeds will fall into the ane–vii range, and most continental breeds in the 4–ix range. Frames 10 and eleven are farthermost sizes. A score of 11 is not to be interpreted as the best—information technology merely indicates the largest type of cattle.

The peak or 'frame' of cattle of a given age is closely related to maturity type (Table ane).

Frame blazon - growth and fattening relationships

Because the elevation or 'frame' of cattle of a given age is closely related to maturity type, the information can be used to categorise or classify a alive brute, based on its growing and fattening pattern.

Large-framed and small-scale-framed cattle grow at their quickest up until they reach physiological maturity (the stage of growth when fattening begins).

The smaller framed cattle reach that point at an earlier age and at a lighter weight than do large-framed cattle. Equally the smaller framed cattle boring down in growth and begin to fatten, the larger framed cattle continue growing for a while before they begin to fatten.

At any given weight, big-framed cattle will be younger and a little leaner than their modest-framed counterparts. At the same age they volition exist heavier but accept like fat depth as that of the modest-framed cattle (come across Figure 1).

Therefore, you can change the 'market weight to fatness' relationship of the cattle y'all produce by using bulls of different frame types. For example, producers who discover that their sale cattle get also fat before they attain the  optimum weight tin can 'stretch out' and 'trim upwards' time to come progeny past using large-framed bulls, that is, later maturing types.

Ecology effects on frame size

Comparison between animals for any measurement is more than meaningful where the animals being compared have been reared nether like environmental atmospheric condition.

The figures in Tables 3 and 4 are adjusted information based on age–height relation studies at the Universities of Missouri and Wisconsin, Usa.

Heights of heifers are generally less than heights of bulls of the same historic period by 1–two.v cm at 6 months, 2–five cm at 8 months, and 5 cm at 12 months and over. Because of this, use Table 4 figures for assessing female cattle.

The economic importance of frame score

Frame score has no direct relationship with reproductive functioning, growth rate or carcase quality. Indirectly, it may impact all these traits.

Frame score, as a predictor of maturity, certainly predicts when an animal is probable to attain a finished slaughter weight.

As a issue, steer fatteners, backgrounders and lotfeeders are usually careful to buy cattle which accept moderate maturity (east.one thousand. frame score 4–6). Their choice volition be determined by the market they are targeting.

What are the frame score requirements for unlike markets?

The frame score requirements for the Australian domestic markets are relatively low considering the greatest need is for light carcases in the 180–230 kg range—although currently increasing. Understandably, carcase weights of up to 400 kg, needed by a segment of the Japanese market, will crave much larger framed animals then that the animals do not become overfat, just not so large that the cattle are not able to be finished.

Table ii should be used as a guide for feeder steers.

Table 2. Guide for feeder steer for different markets

Market	Days on feed	Optimal frame score
Domestic	seventy–100	3–v
Export east.g. Japan brusk fed	100–150	four–6
Export east.g. Japan long fed	220–300	5–7

Frame score charts

Table 3. Male frame scores based on height measurement at the hip (cm)

Age (months)	Bulls—hip height (cm)
	Frame score
	i	2	iii	4	5	6	7	8	nine	10	xi
5	85	90	95	100	105	110	116	121	126	131	137
6	88	93	99	104	108	114	119	124	130	135	140
7	92	97	102	107	112	117	122	128	133	138	143
viii	95	100	105	110	114	120	125	131	136	141	146
9	98	102	107	113	117	123	128	133	138	144	149
10	100	105	110	115	119	125	130	135	140	146	151
xi	102	107	112	117	122	128	133	138	143	148	153
12	104	109	114	119	124	130	135	140	145	150	155
thirteen	106	111	116	121	126	131	137	142	147	152	157
14	108	113	118	123	127	133	138	143	148	154	159
15	109	114	119	124	129	135	140	145	149	155	160
sixteen	110	116	121	126	130	136	141	146	151	156	161
17	112	117	122	127	131	137	142	147	152	157	162
18	113	118	123	128	132	138	143	148	153	158	163
19	114	119	124	129	133	139	144	149	154	160	165
twenty	115	120	125	130	134	140	145	150	155	160	165
21	116	121	126	131	135	140	146	151	156	161	166
Mature bulls
24	118	123	128	133	137	142	147	152	157	163	168
30	120	125	130	135	139	145	150	155	160	165	170
36	122	127	132	137	141	146	151	156	161	166	171
48	123	128	133	137	142	147	152	157	162	167	172

Table 4. Female frame scores based on height measurement at the hip (cm)

Age (months)	Females—hip height (cm)
	Frame score
	1	2	3	4	five	6	7	8	nine	10	xi
v	84	89	94	99	105	110	115	120	126	131	136
6	87	92	97	102	107	113	118	123	128	134	139
7	89	94	100	105	110	115	121	126	131	136	141
8	92	97	102	107	112	117	122	128	133	138	144
9	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	130	135	140	145
ten	96	101	106	111	116	121	126	131	136	141	147
11	98	103	108	113	118	123	128	133	138	144	149
12	99	104	109	114	119	124	130	135	140	145	150
13	101	105	110	116	121	126	131	136	141	146	151
14	102	107	112	117	122	127	132	137	142	147	152
xv	103	108	113	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153
16	104	109	114	119	124	129	134	139	144	149	154
17	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	149	154
18	106	110	116	121	126	131	135	140	145	150	155
19	107	111	116	121	126	131	136	141	146	151	156
xx	107	112	117	122	127	132	137	141	146	151	156
21	108	113	118	123	128	132	137	142	147	152	157
Mature cows
24	109	114	119	124	129	133	138	143	148	153	157
30	111	116	121	125	130	135	140	145	150	154	159
36	112	117	122	126	132	136	141	145	150	155	160
48	113	118	122	127	132	137	142	146	151	155	160

Summary

Frame score has been abused in its utilize to signal superiority of ane animal over some other because of its top. Quite oft people accept relied on frame score to bespeak weight when it would be far more sensible just to weigh the beast. With convenance cattle, weights can exist used to produce EBVs—a much better predictor of weight.

As nosotros take discussed, frame score can be a useful tool to indicate maturity of an animal. However, information technology should non be used in preference to other hands measured traits which requite a improve indication of market suitability or fettle for purpose.

In convenance cattle particularly, balanced choice for a number of productive traits which include fertility, growth and carcase quantity and quality should be practised.

Reference

McKiernan Due west. A., Hoffman Due west., Barwick S. A. and Johnston D. J. 1998, 'Feeder Steer Assessments that are Guides to Feedlot and Carcass Performance', Proceedings of the Beef Products Conference, NSW Agriculture, Armidale.

Acknowledgments

The original NSW Agriculture Agfact on frame scoring was written by Bob Freer, then of NSW Agronomics. This new edition of the Agfact has been based on that first edition, on data provided by Sandy Yeates, then of NSW Agriculture, and on fact sheets produced past Kansas Land University.

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Source: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/beef-cattle/appraisal/publications/frame-scoring

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