a universal method of measuring height across all breeds of cattle
The Frame Score (FS) system of measurement was developed to help assess the growth potential of feeder cattle and to help predict the mature height of young cattle. A calf is measured over the hip, and its height in inches is used with its age in months, in a formula adjusted for age & sex, to determine what frame score it is. Theoretically, an animal has the same frame score its entire life. |
printable
Frame Score Charts
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BULL Frame Score Chart. BIF compliant (the frame score chart used for comparison across most breeds). |
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FEMALE Frame Score Chart for heifers & cows. BIF compliant (the frame score chart used for comparison across most breeds). |
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Frame Score LIGHT Chart: Lists frame scores for bulls & females at ages 6mo, 12mo, 18mo, 2YO & 3YO. |
Stature in Dairy Cattle International Committee for Animal Recording: Since 1993, STATURE is among the standard linear traits that are measured objectively and used internationally across breeds. Stature helps miniature dairy cattle breeders select fullblood bulls that will reliably (genetically) sire shorter calves than the breed average. Stature is defined as the height of the cow measured over her hips. ~ ICAR Conformation Working Group, June 2015 Height is 40% heritable. The current standards applied across modern dairy breeds, is based off of the correlation between the size of a dairy cow and her total milk production records (Traditional evaluation information, Interbull – Form GENO, 2016-09-01). This is the most useful standard to use when maximum gallons of milk production is the primary consideration. For homestead cows, when breeding for shorter (and more efficient) dual purpose or dairy cows, that live longer and produce milk on grass alone, this can be achieved focusing on the standardized dairy cattle stature scores when selecting A.I. dairy bulls.
12
Things to Understand About
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Frame Score Trivia
The following frame score "trivia facts" are for comparison only.
We may not have enough official records to prove or disprove numbers in
miniature cattle, dwarf cattle, or in 100% grassfed small frame cattle.
These percentages & ages apply to standard breeds
of cattle.
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From the
Glossary: Aught: (1) "aught" is old-timey speak for "0" / "oh" / "zero" (2) "aught" and "naught" are old fashioned ways of saying zero. (3) An old Middle English term that refers to a zero or zeroes when labeling progressively decreasing sizes. Used in grains (e.g. buck shot, ammunition), in small horse shoe sizes, in screws & fasteners (e.g. in thread sizes 000=“triple aught”, 00=“double aught, 0=“aught”, #1 and #2, are sizes made to National Aerospace Standards). In Frame Score sizes, comparing miniature cattle to small frame and standard frame breeds of cattle, zero (0) or 1 may refer to an average or median range. Going upwards in number indicates increase in height. Adding zeroes indicates decrease in height. Size 0000 is called 4-aught, 00000 is called 5-aught, and 000000 is called 6-aught. Disclaimer: I (Donna Grace) have no official authority in the miniature cattle industry. I have taken the artisitic liberty of borrowing the term "aught" from my agricultural (specifically horseshoeing & ranching) background when labeling miniature cattle frame scores in my charts. It is no problem writing the zeroes, but when discussing frame scores over the phone, it is much easier to describe your small bull as frame score size "six-aught" than size "zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero." |
“How to Measure mini Herefords”
(extract from an old American Miniature Hereford Newsletter,
originally written by the Largent family, Point of Rocks Ranch, Texas)
The Miniature Hereford Club of America does not accept an animal larger than frame 1 as a Miniature.
The average size of Miniature Herefords is between 41" and 45" (104 and 114 cms).
© est. 2013
Homestead & Miniature Cattle Resource Directory
part of
Homestead Cattle Association
Homestead Cattle Registry
Miniature Cattle Registry
Heritage Cattle Registry
email Homestead.Cattle.assn@gmail.com