Introduction to Livestock Judging and Evaluation Kenneth Geuns Michigan State University Dept. of Animal Science

Introduction to Beef Selection

Criteria for Beef Selection u Soundness u Structural u Reproductive u Volume and Capacity u Muscle u Skeletal Extension u Femininity/ Masculinity

Ideal Beef Heifer

Structural Correctness u Correct joint angles u Shoulder, knee, hock and pastern u Strong top u Level rump structure u Hooks to pins u Large, square foot u Adequate bone

Structurally Correct Heifer

Level rump Strong top Hock Angle Shoulder Angle Knee & Pastern Set

Structurally Correct Heifer

Correct Structure: Rear view

Straight Structured

Incorrect Hip and Hind Leg Structure Low Pin Set Too Much Set to Hock

Volume and Capacity u Most critical in beef production u “Fleshing Ability” u The ability for a mature female to maintain body condition while in lactation u Deep, bold-sprung ribs for feeding and breeding capacity u Wide-chested and wide-based

High Volume Heifer Deep Fore & Rear Flank

Muscle u Heavy muscled cattle are preferred if muscle pattern is long and smooth u Tight, round muscle can inhibit movement

Skeletal Extension u Long bodied, long fronted cattle are preferred u Cattle being too large in their frame can be detrimental u Problems with cattle that are “too big” u Females too large as mature cows u Feedlot cattle do not deposit marbling until excessive weights are reached

Frame Size u Measured with Frame Score u Considers both age and hip height u Ideal frame score range u British Breeds: 5 to Low 7 u Continental Breeds: 6 to High 7

Femininity u Females need to be refined through their shoulder, neck, and head u Vulvas need to be developed with correct udder structure

Correct Femininity

Masculinity u Bulls need to be masculine about their shoulder, neck and head, but not coarse u Bulls should have well developed testicles that are even in size u Minimum scrotal circumference requirements u Maternal sire: 34 cm u Terminal sire: 32 cm

Correct Masculinity

Importance of Testicle Size u Directly related to fertility u Bulls with more developed testicles have improved semen production u A larger scrotal size relates to a bull’s daughters reaching puberty at an earlier age

Introduction to Sheep Selection

Criteria for Sheep Selection u Soundness u Structural u Reproductive u Frame and Growth u Volume and Capacity u Muscle u Breed Character

Structural Correctness u Correct joint angles u Shoulder, knee, hock and pastern u Strong top u Level rump structure u Large, square foot u Adequate bone

Structurally Correct Ram

Structural Incorrectness

Reproductive Correctness u Developed vulva on females u Correct testicle development and shape on males

Frame and Growth u Larger framed sheep will be later maturing and stay leaner u Larger framed sheep will be growthier u Long fronted, long necked desirable u Correct frontends most critical in sheep u Smooth shoulder u Correct neck - shoulder junction

Large framed Long bodied Small framed Short bodied

Breed Differences Southdown Cheviot

Volume and Capacity u Critical for feeding and breeding capacity u Fleshing ability critical in ewe flock u Deep, bold sprung rib cage u Wide chested and wide based

Volume and Capacity

Muscle u Evaluated through the rump and top u Critical in all meat animal production

Breed Character u More highly emphasized than on hogs or cattle u Subjective evaluation on many breeds

Suffolk Breed Character u Black head and legs free from wool u Long, pendulous bell-shaped ear u Roman nose

Introduction to Swine Selection

Criteria for Swine Selection u Soundness u Structural u Reproductive u Scale and Length of Body u Muscle and Leanness u Volume and Capacity u Femininity/ Masculinity

Structural Soundness u Most critical in swine due to environment raised u Critical for: u Mobility and Longevity u Breeding position u Growth rate

Structural Soundness u Correct joint angles u Shoulder and hip angle u Set to hock, knee and pastern u Level top and rump u Even toe size u Adequate bone

Correctly Designed Skeleton

Improperly Designed Skeleton

Correct Hip and Hind Leg Structure Stifle Hock Pastern

Correct Shoulder and Front Leg Structure Knee Pastern

Level Top and Rump

Even Toe Size Correct, Even ToesSmall Inside Toe

Structural Incorrectness u Post-legged -> not enough set to hock and pastern u Sickle-hocked -> too much set to hind leg u Cow-hocked -> hocks come in when viewed from the rear u Bow-legged -> hocks go out when viewed from the rear u Pigeon-toed -> front legs toe in

Reproductive Soundness u Correct Underline u At least six, functional, well-shaped teats, evenly spaced on each side (gilts and boars) u Correct Vulva u Properly developed u Properly shaped

Reproductive Soundness u Correct Testicles u Well developed u Correct carriage u Correct Sheath u Tight u Correctly angled forward

Reproductively Sound Boar

Reproductive Unsoundness u Pin nipple -> undeveloped teat u Blunt underline -> teats lack prominence u Short teat count -> not enough nipples u Infantile vulva -> undeveloped u Tipped vulva -> turned up u Small or uneven testicles -> lacks size and uniformity

Scale and Length of Body u Large-framed, later maturing hogs will grow faster, more efficiently, and stay leaner than small-framed, early maturing hogs u Long bodied, long fronted hogs will normally be later maturing

Muscle and Leanness u Heavy muscled, lean breeding hogs desired u Must be obtained without sacrificing structural and reproductive soundness u Extremes in leanness can be detrimental to reproductive traits of females

Volume and Capacity u Deep, outward shaped rib with width of chest and base is desired for feeding and breeding capacity u Volume is 3 dimensional u Depth u Width u Length

Femininity/ Masculinity u Females should be long bodied with a long, clean neck and head u Females should be clean and flat in their bone u Males should also be long bodied and fronted but with stouter features (head, neck, bone and feet)