Livestock Evaluation

I. Bovine

A. Breeding Heifers1. Structural Correctness

a. Most important factorb. Skeletal factorsc. Watch the stride of the animal

2. Femininitya. Front 1/3b. Long, refined headc. Long neck, free of fat and wasted. Flat, smooth shoulder blend

I. Bovine

3. Body Capacitya. 3D view of rib cageb. Depth of ribc. Spring of ribd. Length of ribe. Doesn’t = ability to carry big calf

4. Musclinga. Hind quarter viewb. Thick, square rump, wide pins

I. Bovine

c. Topline viewd. Maintain width from shoulder backe. Watch out for fatf. Not too narrow, not too thick

5. Frame sizea. Least important factorb. Overall length and width

I. Bovine

B. Breeding Bulls1. Structural Correctness2. Muscling3. Body Capacity4. Frame Size5. Masculinity

a. Stout appearanceb. Large scrotal circumference (min

32 cm)

I. Bovine

c. Large testes = early maturing daughters

d. “Cresty” appearance undesirable @ < 1yr

C. Market Steer1. Muscling2. Correctness of finish and balance

a. Even distribution of external fat over the ribs

b. .3 to .5 inches on 12th rib

I. Bovine

c. Brisket, middle, pinsd. Balance- front vs. back

3. Structural correctness4. Body capacity5. Length

II. Swine

A. Breeding Gilts and Boars1. Structural correctness

a. Important for confinement operations

b. Loose, flexible spinec. Level rump

2. Frame Size/Growth Ratea. Faster growth=early marketb. Large frame, wide width

II. Swine

c. Evaluated at the chest floor and base of ham

3. Musclea. Beginners look at rear viewb. Width and shape of hamc. Wide shouldersd. Do not look at toplinee. Wide top & narrow base =

overconditioned and light muscled

II. Swine

4. Leana. “Hour Glass” shapeb. Visible scapula when walkingc. Should be clean in the jowl, free

from waste in elbows and middle5. Underline

a. 6 evenly spaced nipples each sideb. Fine texture, equal shape and sizec. “Pin Nipples”, “Blunt Nipple”,

“Coarse”

II. Swine

d. Boar has same underlinee. 3 nipples in front of sheath

6. Durabilitya. Substance of bone & structural

correctnessb. Large feetc. Thick bonesd. Boars need to be rugged and

masculine

II. Swine

B. Market Swine1. Muscling2. Leanness3. Growth rate4. Durability5. Structural correctness

III. Ovine

A. Breeding Ewes and Rams1. Same characteristics as cattle2. Add breed character

a. Medium-wool sheep1. Dorset2. Columbia3. Suffolk4. Hampshire

b. Fine-wool sheep: 50% wool

III. Ovine

B. Market Sheep1. Muscle2. Leanness3. Balance4. Length5. Handling the sheep

IV. EPD

D. Expected Progeny Difference (EPD)1. Genetic potential2. Situation

a. Type and amount of feed availableb. Judging bulls- cow size, age, breed

(BW)c. Labor (CE)d. Progeny utilization

1. Sell @ Weaning (WW)

IV. EPD

2. Replacement (WW, YW, MT)3. Feedlot (YW, ADG, CT)

V. Oral Reasons

A. Purpose is to explain why you placed a class the way you did

B. Contests are won and lostC. Taking Notes

1. Reminder of animals2. Develop reasons from3. Be descriptive4. Abbreviate when you can

D. Setting up Reasons

V. Oral Reasons

1. Good-Grant-Fault2. MEMORIZE your reasons3. Good eye contact with judge4. Be verbally forceful5. Try not to use your notes