| FRAME SCORES
IN BEEF CATTLE |
| (Adapted from the BIF Guidelines for Uniform Beef
Improvement Programs) |
| Measurements for height have been used as a descriptive supplement
in many herd testing programs. Adjusted weights and weight ratios
accompanied by linear measurements for height have added another
dimension to evaluating fat-lean ratio of an individual animal in
a performance program. No one frame size for an animal will be best
for all feed resources, breeding systems, and markets. Long-term
economic return should determine the optimum frame-size range within
a given set of resources, breeding system, and market specifications.
|
| Frame score is a convenient way of describing
the skeletal size of cattle. With appropriate height growth curves,
most animals should maintain the same frame score throughout their
life, while their actual height increases with age. This allows
one frame score value to be used regardless of when the animal was
evaluated. However, the frame score will change for animals that
mature earlier or later compared with average animals. |
| Environmental factors can also alter an animal's growth performance.
Nutritional level is a major factor. Cattle that do not receive
adequate nutrition will be below average in growth rate, while cattle
fed extremely high levels will grow faster. |
| The recommended site for linear height measurement
is a point directly over the hooks (see figure). This measurement
is adjusted to production end points at 205 days and 365 days (within
BIF ranges currently used for adjusted weights.) |
| It is recommended that the actual hip height and adjusted hip
height be printed in the National Cattle Evaluation rather than
height ratio. |
 |
| Height Measurement |
Appropriate height growth curves must take into consideration
differences in growth rate that exist between small- and large-frame
cattle. The accompanying tables give current estimates of cattle
height, along with adjustment equations for bulls, heifers and
cows. |
| |
|
| Bull Hip Height (inches)
Frame Score for Ages 5 to 21 Months |
|
Age in
Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame
4 |
Score
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
| 5 |
33.5 |
35.5 |
37.5 |
39.5 |
41.6 |
43.6 |
45.6 |
47.7 |
49.7 |
| 6 |
34.8 |
36.8 |
38.8 |
40.8 |
42.9 |
44.9 |
46.9 |
48.9 |
51.0 |
| 7 |
36.0 |
38.0 |
40.0 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.1 |
48.1 |
50.1 |
52.2 |
| 8 |
37.2 |
39.2 |
41.2 |
43.2 |
45.2 |
47.2 |
49.3 |
51.3 |
53.3 |
| 9 |
38.2 |
40.2 |
42.3 |
44.3 |
46.3 |
48.3 |
50.3 |
52.3 |
54.3 |
| 10 |
39.2 |
41.2 |
43.3 |
45.3 |
47.3 |
49.3 |
51.3 |
53.3 |
55.3 |
| 11 |
40.2 |
42.2 |
44.2 |
46.2 |
48.2 |
50.2 |
52.2 |
54.2 |
56.2 |
| 12 |
41.0 |
43.3 |
45.0 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
57.0 |
| 13 |
41.8 |
43.8 |
45.8 |
47.8 |
49.8 |
51.8 |
53.8 |
55.8 |
57.7 |
| 14 |
42.5 |
44.5 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.4 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
56.4 |
58.4 |
| 15 |
43.1 |
45.1 |
47.1 |
49.1 |
51.1 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
57.0 |
59.0 |
| 16 |
43.6 |
45.6 |
47.6 |
49.6 |
51.6 |
53.6 |
55.6 |
57.5 |
59.5 |
| 17 |
44.1 |
46.1 |
48.1 |
50.1 |
52.0 |
54.0 |
56.0 |
58.0 |
60.0 |
| 18 |
44.5 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.5 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
56.4 |
58.4 |
60.3 |
| 19 |
44.9 |
46.8 |
48.8 |
50.8 |
52.7 |
54.7 |
56.7 |
58.7 |
60.6 |
| 20 |
45.1 |
47.1 |
49.1 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
56.9 |
58.9 |
60.9 |
| 21 |
45.3 |
47.3 |
49.2 |
51.2 |
53.2 |
55.1 |
57.1 |
59.1 |
61.0 |
|
| The following equation should only be used
for bulls between the ages of 5 and 21 months: Frame Score = -11.548
+ 0.4878 (Ht.) - 0.0289 (Days of Age) + 0.00001947 (Days of Age)2
+ 0.0000334 (Ht.) (Days of Age). |
| |
| Mature Bull Hip Height (inches)
Frame Score |
|
Age in
Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame
4 |
Score
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
| 24 |
46.4 |
48.3 |
50.3 |
52.3 |
53.9 |
56.0 |
58.0 |
60. |
62.0 |
64.0 |
66.0 |
| 30 |
47.3 |
49.3 |
51.3 |
53.2 |
54.9 |
57.0 |
59.0 |
61.0 |
63.0 |
65.0 |
67.0 |
| 36 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
51.9 |
53.8 |
55.5 |
57.5 |
59.5 |
61.5 |
63.5 |
65.5 |
67.4 |
| 48 |
48.5 |
50.4 |
52.3 |
54.1 |
55.9 |
58.0 |
60.0 |
62.0 |
63.9 |
65.8 |
67.7 |
|
|
| Heifer Hip Height (inches)
Frame Score for Ages 5 to 21 Months |
|
Age in
Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame
4 |
Score
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
| 5 |
33.1 |
35.1 |
37.2 |
39.3 |
41.3 |
43.4 |
45.5 |
47.5 |
49.6 |
| 6 |
34.1 |
36.2 |
38.2 |
40.3 |
42.3 |
44.4 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.6 |
| 7 |
35.1 |
37.1 |
39.2 |
41.2 |
43.3 |
45.3 |
47.4 |
49.4 |
51.5 |
| 8 |
36.0 |
38.0 |
40.1 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.2 |
48.2 |
50.2 |
52.3 |
| 9 |
36.8 |
38.9 |
40.9 |
42.9 |
44.9 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
| 10 |
37.6 |
39.6 |
41.6 |
43.7 |
45.7 |
47.7 |
49.7 |
51.7 |
53.8 |
| 11 |
38.3 |
40.3 |
42.3 |
44.3 |
46.4 |
48.4 |
50.4 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
| 12 |
39.0 |
41.0 |
43.0 |
45.0 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
51.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
| 13 |
39.6 |
41.6 |
43.6 |
45.5 |
47.5 |
49.5 |
51.5 |
53.5 |
55.5 |
| 14 |
40.1 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.1 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
52.0 |
54.0 |
56.0 |
| 15 |
40.6 |
42.6 |
44.5 |
46.5 |
48.5 |
50.5 |
52.4 |
54.4 |
56.4 |
| 16 |
41.0 |
43.0 |
44.9 |
46.9 |
48.9 |
50.8 |
52.8 |
54.8 |
56.7 |
| 17 |
41.4 |
43.3 |
45.3 |
47.2 |
49.2 |
51.1 |
53.1 |
55.1 |
57.0 |
| 18 |
41.7 |
43.6 |
45.6 |
47.5 |
49.5 |
51.4 |
53.4 |
55.3 |
57.3 |
| 19 |
41.9 |
43.9 |
45.8 |
47.7 |
49.7 |
51.6 |
53.6 |
55.5 |
57.4 |
| 20 |
42.1 |
44.1 |
46.0 |
47.9 |
49.8 |
51.8 |
53.7 |
55.6 |
57.6 |
| 21 |
42.3 |
44.2 |
46.1 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
51.9 |
53.8 |
55.7 |
57.7 |
|
The following equation should only be used for heifers between
the ages of 5 and 21 months: Frame Score = -11.7086 + 0.4723 (Ht.)
- 0.0239 (Days of Age) + 0.0000146
(Days of Age)2 + 0.0000759 (Ht.) (Days of Age). |
| |
| Mature Cow Hip Height (inches)
Frame Score |
|
Age in
Months |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frame
4 |
Score
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
| 24 |
43.1 |
45.0 |
46.9 |
48.8 |
50.7 |
52.5 |
54.5 |
56.4 |
58.2 |
60.1 |
62.0 |
| 30 |
43.8 |
45.8 |
47.5 |
49.4 |
51.3 |
53.1 |
55.1 |
57.0 |
58.9 |
60.8 |
62.5 |
| 36 |
44.2 |
46.1 |
48.0 |
49.8 |
51.8 |
53.6 |
55.5 |
57.2 |
59.2 |
61.0 |
62.8 |
| 48 |
44.6 |
46.5 |
48.2 |
50.0 |
52.0 |
53.9 |
55.8 |
57.5 |
59.4 |
61.2 |
63.0 |
|