the most 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, and its height in inches is compared to its age in months, to determine what its frame score is. Theoretically, an animal has the same frame score its entire life. |
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 a frame 1 as a Miniature Hereford.
The average size of Miniature Herefords is between 41" and 45" (104 and 114 cms)
printable
Frame Score Charts
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FS chart for cows & bulls .jpg |
FS height guide portrait .jpg |
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FS chart for cows; printable .pdf |
FS chart for bulls; printable .pdf |
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FS height guide landscape .jpg |
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both FS charts bulls & cows .jpg |
FS height chart ranges (cows) .png |
Stature in Dairy Cattle Height is 40% heritable. If breeding for shorter (and perhaps more efficient) homestead dual purpose or dairy cows, this could be achieved in fewer generations using standardized dairy cattle stature scores when selecting A.I. dairy bulls. International Committee for Animal Recording: Since 1993, STATURE is among the standard linear traits that are measured internationally and objectively. 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
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." |
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![]() a Bucking V Outfit, LLC. enterprise, circa 1999 published online since October 2014 by Vintage Press, LLC. author: Donna Grace Miniature.Cattle.Directory@gmail.com |