1. Introduction To Dairy Cattle Evaluation
Mr. Weaver

2. Objectives Identify the parts of a dairy animal.
Determine five critical areas on a dairy animal that should be considered to maximize milk efficiency.
Analyze dairy animals using determined parts and five critical areas.

3. Parts of the Dairy Cow X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Topline X
Poll X X
Back
Thurl
Tailhead
Forehead X X X
Chine X
Loin X
Rump X
Pin Bone
Bridge of Nose
Neck
Barrell
Hip X
Withers X X
Crops X X X X
Tail X
Thigh
Ribs X X
Heart Girth X
Rear Udder Attachment
Muzzle X X X X
Jaw X
Stifle
Throat
Flank X
Fore Udder X
Rear Udder
Point of Shoulder X X X X
Hock
Dewlap X X X X X X
Brisket X X
Switch
Point of Elbow
Teats X X
Knee
Milk Veins
Dew Claw
Chest Floor
Milk Wells
Fore Udder Attachment X
Heel X X
Sole X
Pastern
Hoof

4. Why Judge Dairy Cattle?
~ Gain a better understanding of what makes a productive and functional dairy cow
~ Improve observational skills
~ Learn how to present yourself in a clear manner
~ Have fun

5. Dairy Cow Unified Scorecard
40% Mammary System
20% Dairy Character
15% Frame
15% Feet & Legs
10% Body Capacity

6. Mammary System – 40 %

7. How high above the hock is the udder?
Udder Depth
How high above the hock is the udder?

8. Teat placement & Size Where are the teats placed on the quarters?
Pay particular attention to the front teats.
Teats should be about 2 inches long and cylindrical

9. Rear Udder Width & Height
Rear udder width is measured at the attachment
The higher the rear udder the better!

10. Fore Udder & Udder Quality
Look at the length & smoothness of the fore udder attachment
Look at the balance from both side and rear
Look at the veining of the udder

11. Dairy Character – 20% What is dairy character?
~ Dairy character indicates the ability of the cow to efficiently convert feed to milk.
~ Evidence of dairy character includes flat bone and angularity

12. Rib & Bone Look for rib that sweeps back toward the flank
Look for ribs that are wide apart and flat
The bone should also be flat & refined

13. Cleanliness & Angularity
Look for sharp withers, hips & pins
Clean down the neck and thigh

14. Frame – 15% Components of Frame Rump Stature Front end Back
Head & Breed Character

15. Rump, Stature & Back
The rump should have a slight slope from hips to pins.
The rump should be wide from hip to hip and pin to pin.
Stature is how tall the cow is at the withers.
The back should be slightly higher at the withers than hips and straight all the way across.

16. Rump, Stature & Back

17. Front End & Strength Front end assembly is the shoulder and chest
It should be smooth and tight
Strength = width of chest & muzzle.

18. Head & Breed Character Look for: a feminine head
correct breed colors and shape of head
Deep jaw & wide muzzle

19. Feet & Legs – 15% Components of Feet and Legs:
Feet – deep heel, short toe
Rear legs – straight from rear
Rear legs – moderate angle from side
Pasterns – short and strong

20. Legs – Side View View the rear legs from the side
The leg should have a moderate angle to the hock
The hock should be clean and flexible

21. Body Capacity – 10% Body capacity is simply the volume of the cow
( Length X Width X Depth )
Look for:
a long body
a wide chest
a deep barrel

22. Length & Depth of Barrel

23. Lets Practice! Here is a practice class of Brown Swiss cows…
Look at each cow and think about the parts of the Unified Scorecard.
Then write down several things that you like or dislike about that cow.
Finally, write down how you would place the class

24. Brown Swiss - Cow A

25. Brown Swiss - Cow B

26. Brown Swiss - Cow C

27. Brown Swiss - Cow D

28. Time for Decisions…
Which cow has the best udder? What about 2nd. Best?
Which cow has the worst udder?
Which cow has the most dairy character?
Which cow has the least dairy character?

29. What do you think? Which cow had the best frame? The worst frame?
Which cow had the best feet? the worst feet?
Which cow has the most body capacity? the least body capacity?

30. Did you see what the judge saw?
Udder A C D B
Dairy character C A D B
Frame A C B D
Feet & Legs C D A B
Body Capacity A D C B

31. How did you do? Did you see it like the judge did?
Even if you didn’t, that’s O.K.
Learning to judge Dairy Cattle takes time
As long as you’re willing to learn and are having fun judging can be a great experience!

32. Did you see what the judge saw?
The judge’s final placing was…
A C D B
To read what the judge had to say about this class of cows go to:
HOARD'S DAIRYMAN -- The National Dairy Farm Magazine