Frame scoring of beef cattle

The height of a beef animal at a given age can be used as a measure of its maturity type, or growth curve potential. It allows the breeder to determine where an animal best fits into a breeding program; whether, for example, the bull is better suited to producing vealers or steers. Height can be used to predict the growth and fattening pattern of a beast, as well as its mature size, and can be a helpful adjunct to other performance records when selecting replacement breeding stock.

A convenient way to discuss and evaluate height is in units of "frame score" based on the height over the hips at a given age.

HOW TO EVALUATE BODY TYPE

Body type (size of frame) scores are made on 1 to 9 basis, as shown in figure below, from the smallest up to largest types of cattle. These body type scores were developed at the University of Wisconsin in the U.S.A. and are applicable to all breeds of cattle. Most British breeds (Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn) will fall in the 1 to 5 range, and non-British breeds such as Charolais, Simmental, Chianina, Maine-Anjou and Limousin will generally be from 5 to 9. A score of 9 is not to be interpreted as the best; it merely indicates the largest type of cattle.

BODY TYPE SCORE

1. Very, small framed

Extremely short in every, dimension of skeletal development, short legged and short bodied; generally show a tendency towards waste; usually show good muscle expression; early maturing; lack rapid growth potential.

2. Small framed

Not as extreme as body type 1, but short in skeletal and muscle dimensions; small mature size.

3. Below average size

Slightly, smaller in skeletal dimensions than average: average muscle expressions for British breed cattle; represents about the average of British breeds and the smallest non-British-breed cattle.

4. Average skeletal size

Medium in size, neither extremely small nor large, ample length of body: average bone and muscle length and growth potential, average size when mature.

5. Above average size

Slightly larger in skeletal dimensions than average: long boned: represents the largest British-breed cattle and is about average for non British breeds and crosses: long muscled, represented by additional length of muscle attachment in forearm and long, deep stifle muscling.

6. Large framed

Larger more "growthy" cattle: long bodied and long legged: should have longer, smoother muscling than average, large mature size.

7. Very large framed

The longest and tallest animals in all dimensions; represents the largest non-British-breed cattle; very long boned and long muscled; muscling is smooth and lacking in expression; generally of rapid growth potential; very large mature size; late maturing; may appear less mature than smaller body type cattle of the same age.

FRAME TYPE-GROWTH AND FATTENING RELATIONSHIPS

Because the height or "frame" of cattle of a given age is closely related to its maturity type, the information can be used to categorize or classify the live animal, based on its growing and fattening pattern.

Large framed and small framed cattle grow at a fairly similar rate until they, reach physiological maturity (the stage of growth when fattening begins).

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

This means that, within a breed, large framed cattle grow more efficiently (as measured by gain per day) to a given weight than smaller framed cattle. At any given weight, large framed cattle will be younger and a little leaner than their small framed counterpart. At the same age they will be heavier but have similar fat depth as the small framed cattle. (See the graph.)

Therefore. you can change the market weight to fatness relation of the cattle you produce by using bulls of different frame types. For example, a producer who finds that his sale cattle get too fat before they reach the optimum weight can "stretch out" and "trim up" future progeny by using a large framed bull, that is, a later maturing type.

Table 1. Males frame scores based on height measurement at hip (cm)
Frame Score
Age in months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
5
86
91
97
102
107
112
117
122
127
6
89
94
99
104
109
114
119
124
129
7
91
97
102
107
112
117
122
127
132
8
94
99
104
109
114
119
125
130
135
9
97
102
107
112
117
122
127
132
137
10
100
104
109
114
119
124
130
135
140
11
102
107
112
117
122
127
132
137
142
12
103
109
114
119
124
130
135
140
145
13
105
110
116
121
126
131
136
141
146
14
107
112
117
122
127
132
137
142
147
15
108
113
118
123
128
133
138
143
147
16
109
114
119
124
130
135
140
145
150
17
110
116
121
126
131
136
141
146
151
18
112
117
122
127
132
137
142
147
152

Table 2. Females. Frame scores based on height measurement at hip (cm)

Age in Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
5 86 91 96 101 106 111 116 121 126
6 88 93 98 103 108 113 118 123 128
7 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130
8 91.5 96.5 101.5 106.5 111.5 116.5 121.5 126.5 131.5
9 93 98 103 108 113 118 123 128 132
10 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135
11 97 102 107 112 117 122 127 132 137
12 99 104 109 114 119 124 129 134 139
13 101 106 111 116 121 126 131 136 141
14 102 107 112 117 122 127 132 137 142
15 103.5 108.5 113.5 118.5 123.5 128.5 133.5 138.5 143.5
16 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145
17 106 111 116 121 126 131 136 141 146
18 107 112 117 122 127 132 137 142 147
24 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150
Mature - Calve 2 yr. 112 117 122 127 132 137 142 147 152
Mature - Calve 3 yr. 114 119 124 129 134 139 144 149 154

 

Comparative growth and weight gain of large and small frame cattle.

WHAT FRAME TYPE IS BEST?

There is no best frame type, and the biggest are not necessary the best; but they are better suited to a specific production goal.

The most appropriate frame type for your beef enterprise will depend on the type of country you have and the market you are aiming at.

For example:

* Early maturing types (frame sizes 2 and 3) are small in skeleton, reach a small mature size, fatten at light weights (less than 350 kg liveweight) and produce progeny suited for the lightweight local trade.

* Mid-maturing types (frame sizes 4 and 5) are medium to large British breed cattle, having a trimmer, longer outline than the early maturing types. The mid-maturing types fatten at about 350 to 450 kg liveweight and produce progeny suited for light local trade, supermarket steers, yearlings and heavy steers - depending on environment.

* Late maturing types (frame sizes 6 - 9) are very large framed, leggy cattle with fast growth rate potential. They fatten at heavier weights (450 kg+) than the early and mid-maturing types and are best suited for the production of yearlings, steers and bullocks.

Environmental effects on frame size

Comparison between animals for any measurement is more meaningful where the animals being compared have been reared under similar environmental conditions.

However, height of cattle at a given age is less influenced by nutrition than by differences in weight. United States experience indicates that environment would account for differences of only 2 to 3 cm between individuals of the same age run under different environments (but not including extreme nutritional stress conditions).

The figures in Tables 1 and 2 are adjusted data based on age/height relation studies at the Universities of Missouri and Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Heights of heifers are generally less than heights of bulls of the same age by 1 to 2.5 cm at 6 months, 2 to 5 cm at 8 months, and 5 cm at 12 months and over. Because of this use Table 2 figures for assessing female cattle.