BAIRNSLEY  HIGHLAND  CATTLE

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JD Status - MN1

Glen & Karen Hastie
960 Wildwood Road
Sunbury
Victoria
Australia 3429

Phone (03) 9740 9010
Fax     (03) 9744 9010
hasties@bairnsley.com

                           

 

FRAME SCORE

This is a single characteristic of cattle that can allow the comparison of the potential mature height of different aged animals. It is one of many characteristics that can be used to select animals for breeding. Providing nutrition remains constant and there are no diseases to slow growth, the rate of increase in frame size of an animal remains uniform and predictable thoughout the their growth years.

We use this measurement to predict the mature height of our young bulls and heifers. Having said this, a larger framed animal is of no use to you if it does not have correct conformation, good muscling etc. In general, cattle with higher frame scores attain a greater mature weight, simply because there is more bone on which to lay down meat.

The following tables allow you to calculate the frame score of any animal aged six months or more (measured at the hook or hip - in centimetres). Most Highlands in Australia have a frame score of 3-4.

Point at which to measure frame score.

 

Frame Score - Bulls

Age
(months)		 1 2 3 4 5 6
6 89 94 99 104 109 114
7 91 97 102 107 112 117
8 94 99 104 109 114 119
9 97 102 107 112 117 122
10 99 104 109 114 119 124
11 102 107 112 117 122 127
12 104 109 114 119 124 130
13 104 110 116 121 126 131
14 107 112 117 122 127 132
15 108 113 118 123 128 133
16 109 114 119 124 130 135
17 110 116 121 126 131 136
18 112 116 122 127 132 137
19 112 117 123 128 133 138
20 113 118 123 128 133 138
21 114 119 124 129 134 139
22 114 119 124 130 135 140
23 115 120 125 130 135 140
24 116 121 126 131 136 141
Maturity 119 124 130 135 140 145

 

Frame Score - Females

Age (months) 1 2 3 4 5 6
5 86 91 96 101 106 111
6 88 93 98 103 108 113
7 90 95 100 105 110 115
8 91.5 96.5 101.5 106.5 111.5 116.5
9 93 98 103 108 113 118
10 95 100 105 110 115 120
11 97 102 107 112 117 122
12 99 104 109 114 119 124
13 101 106 111 116 121 126
14 102 107 112 117 122 127
15 103.5 108.5 113.5 118.5 123.5 128.5
16 105 110 115 120 125 130
17 106 111 116 121 126 131
18 107