Source: Angus.org
FRAME
SCORES IN BEEF CATTLE
(Source:
Angus.org & Adapted from the BIF Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement
Programs)
“Measurements for height
have been used as a descriptive supplement in many herd testing programs. Adjusted
weights and weight ratios accompanied by linear measurements for height have
added another dimension to evaluating fat-lean ratio of an individual animal in
a performance program. No one frame size for an animal will be best for all
feed resources, breeding systems, and markets. Long-term economic return should
determine the optimum frame-size range within a given set of resources,
breeding system, and market specifications.”
“Frame score is a
convenient way of describing the skeletal size of cattle. With appropriate
height growth curves, most animals should maintain the same frame score
throughout their life, while their actual height increases with age. This
allows one frame score value to be used regardless of when the animal was
evaluated. However, the frame score will change for animals that mature earlier or later
compared with average animals.”
“Environmental factors
can also alter an animal's growth performance. Nutritional level is a major
factor. Cattle that do not receive adequate nutrition will be below average in
growth rate, while cattle fed extremely high levels will grow faster. “ (Thus, seedstock producers who raise their herd on 100% grass
should take this into consideration when calculating frame score on their
breeding stock that has not reached approximately 24 to 28 months of age. Grass-based seedstock
have a slower growth curve, as they aren’t being pushed to rapidly develop
their frame.)
“The recommended site
for linear height measurement is a point directly over the hooks (see figure).
This measurement is adjusted to production end points at 205 days and 365 days
(within BIF ranges currently used for adjusted weights.)“
“It is recommended that the
actual hip height and adjusted hip height be . . . . rather than height
ratio.”
Height Measurement
Appropriate
height growth curves must take into consideration differences in growth rate
that exist between small- and large-frame cattle. The accompanying tables give
current estimates of cattle height, along with adjustment equations for bulls,
heifers and cows.
Bull Hip Height (inches)
Frame Score for Ages 5 to 21 Months
|
Age in Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame |
Score |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
5 |
33.5 |
35.5 |
37.5 |
39.5 |
41.6 |
43.6 |
45.6 |
47.7 |
49.7 |
|
6 |
34.8 |
36.8 |
38.8 |
40.8 |
42.9 |
44.9 |
46.9 |
48.9 |
51.0 |
|
7 |
36.0 |
38.0 |
40.0 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.1 |
48.1 |
50.1 |
52.2 |
|
8 |
37.2 |
39.2 |
41.2 |
43.2 |
45.2 |
47.2 |
49.3 |
51.3 |
53.3 |
|
9 |
38.2 |
40.2 |
42.3 |
44.3 |
46.3 |
48.3 |
50.3 |
52.3 |
54.3 |
|
10 |
39.2 |
41.2 |
43.3 |
45.3 |
47.3 |
49.3 |
51.3 |
53.3 |
55.3 |
|
11 |
40.2 |
42.2 |
44.2 |
46.2 |
48.2 |
50.2 |
52.2 |
54.2 |
56.2 |
|
12 |
41.0 |
43.3 |
45.0 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
57.0 |
|
13 |
41.8 |
43.8 |
45.8 |
47.8 |
49.8 |
51.8 |
53.8 |
55.8 |
57.7 |
|
14 |
42.5 |
44.5 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.4 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
56.4 |
58.4 |
|
15 |
43.1 |
45.1 |
47.1 |
49.1 |
51.1 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
57.0 |
59.0 |
|
16 |
43.6 |
45.6 |
47.6 |
49.6 |
51.6 |
53.6 |
55.6 |
57.5 |
59.5 |
|
17 |
44.1 |
46.1 |
48.1 |
50.1 |
52.0 |
54.0 |
56.0 |
58.0 |
60.0 |
|
18 |
44.5 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.5 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
56.4 |
58.4 |
60.3 |
|
19 |
44.9 |
46.8 |
48.8 |
50.8 |
52.7 |
54.7 |
56.7 |
58.7 |
60.6 |
|
20 |
45.1 |
47.1 |
49.1 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
56.9 |
58.9 |
60.9 |
|
21 |
45.3 |
47.3 |
49.2 |
51.2 |
53.2 |
55.1 |
57.1 |
59.1 |
61.0 |
The
following equation should only be used for bulls between the ages of 5 and 21
months:
Frame Score = -11.548 + (0.4878 x Ht.) - (0.0289 x Age) + (0.00001947 x Age x
Age ) + (0.0000334 x Ht. x Age), where Age = days of age.
Mature Bull Hip Height (inches) Frame Score
|
Age in Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame |
Score |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
24 |
46.4 |
48.3 |
50.3 |
52.3 |
53.9 |
56.0 |
58.0 |
60. |
62.0 |
64.0 |
66.0 |
|
30 |
47.3 |
49.3 |
51.3 |
53.2 |
54.9 |
57.0 |
59.0 |
61.0 |
63.0 |
65.0 |
67.0 |
|
36 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
51.9 |
53.8 |
55.5 |
57.5 |
59.5 |
61.5 |
63.5 |
65.5 |
67.4 |
|
48 |
48.5 |
50.4 |
52.3 |
54.1 |
55.9 |
58.0 |
60.0 |
62.0 |
63.9 |
65.8 |
67.7 |
Heifer Hip Height
(inches) Frame Score for Ages 5 to 21 Months
|
Age in Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame |
Score |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
5 |
33.1 |
35.1 |
37.2 |
39.3 |
41.3 |
43.4 |
45.5 |
47.5 |
49.6 |
|
6 |
34.1 |
36.2 |
38.2 |
40.3 |
42.3 |
44.4 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.6 |
|
7 |
35.1 |
37.1 |
39.2 |
41.2 |
43.3 |
45.3 |
47.4 |
49.4 |
51.5 |
|
8 |
36.0 |
38.0 |
40.1 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.2 |
48.2 |
50.2 |
52.3 |
|
9 |
36.8 |
38.9 |
40.9 |
42.9 |
44.9 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
|
10 |
37.6 |
39.6 |
41.6 |
43.7 |
45.7 |
47.7 |
49.7 |
51.7 |
53.8 |
|
11 |
38.3 |
40.3 |
42.3 |
44.3 |
46.4 |
48.4 |
50.4 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
|
12 |
39.0 |
41.0 |
43.0 |
45.0 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
|
13 |
39.6 |
41.6 |
43.6 |
45.5 |
47.5 |
49.5 |
51.5 |
53.5 |
55.5 |
|
14 |
40.1 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.1 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
52.0 |
54.0 |
56.0 |
|
15 |
40.6 |
42.6 |
44.5 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.5 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
56.4 |
|
16 |
41.0 |
43.0 |
44.9 |
46.9 |
48.9 |
50.8 |
52.8 |
54.8 |
56.7 |
|
17 |
41.4 |
43.3 |
45.3 |
47.2 |
49.2 |
51.1 |
53.1 |
55.1 |
57.0 |
|
18 |
41.7 |
43.6 |
45.6 |
47.5 |
49.5 |
51.4 |
53.4 |
55.3 |
57.3 |
|
19 |
41.9 |
43.9 |
45.8 |
47.7 |
49.7 |
51.6 |
53.6 |
55.5 |
57.4 |
|
20 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.0 |
47.9 |
49.8 |
51.8 |
53.7 |
55.6 |
57.6 |
|
21 |
42.3 |
44.2 |
46.1 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
51.9 |
53.8 |
55.7 |
57.7 |
The
following equation should only be used for heifers between the ages of 5 and 21
months:
Frame Score = -11.7086 + (0.4723 x Ht.) - (0.0239 x Age) + (0.0000146 x Age x
Age ) + (0.0000759 x Ht. x Age), where Age = days of age.
Mature Cow Hip Height (inches) Frame Score
|
Age in Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame |
Score |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
24 |
43.1 |
45.0 |
46.9 |
48.8 |
50.7 |
52.5 |
54.5 |
56.4 |
58.2 |
60.1 |
62.0 |
|
30 |
43.8 |
45.8 |
47.5 |
49.4 |
51.3 |
53.1 |
55.1 |
57.0 |
58.9 |
60.8 |
62.5 |
|
36 |
44.2 |
46.1 |
48.0 |
49.8 |
51.8 |
53.6 |
55.5 |
57.2 |
59.2 |
61.0 |
62.8 |
|
48 |
44.6 |
46.5 |
48.2 |
50.0 |
52.0 |
53.9 |
55.8 |
57.5 |
59.4 |
61.2 |
63.0 |