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Division of Agricultural Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
TO BEEF CATTLE
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
REUBEN ALBAUGH
HORACE T. STRONG
F. D. CARROLL
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL
Experiment Station
Extension Service
CIRCULAR 451
tyou ca*t ttnfifiove youi &e%ct&
Selective faeectiity
*7&t& citcutat
if you consistently select cattle that have weight for
their age, grade high, and are regular producers.
This circular deals with improvement programs for
both purebred and commercial herds.
of commercial cattle is the most rapid, practical, sure,
and economical method of improving quality and meat
production. It accomplishes these results:
Brings about improvement, since the best bulls
are mated to the best cows.
Develops uniformity in the herd.
Insures production of top replacement heifers.
Makes possible a more effective culling program.
Helps to determine the good producing bulls.
simply outlines a recommended beef cattle improvement
program— it is not a complete step-by-step description of the
whole program. In order to carry it out you will need certain
printed forms and some technical assistance from your local
University of California Farm Advisor.
THE AUTHORS:
Reuben Albaugh and Horace T. Strong are Extension Animal Husbandmen, and F. D. Carroll is
Assistant Professor of Animal Husbandry, University of California, Davis.
MARCH, 1956
The cover picture
is of California Rover II (grade 1-), used in the University herd until thirteen years old, a proven
sire of high-gaining, efficient, useful offspring.
rf faide
for BEEF CATTLE
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
REUBEN ALBAUGH • HORACE T. STRONG • F. D. CARROLL
PUREBRED HERDS
CALIFORNIA'S record -of -performance
and grading program for purebred beef
cattle was originated by the late Profes-
sor H. R. Guilbert, assisted by the late
Alex McDonald, long-time herdsman for
the University of California, and L. H.
Rochford, who was Extension livestock
specialist when the program was started.
Mr. Rochford is now president and gen-
eral manager of theTejon Ranch, Bakers-
field — one of the largest beef-cattle oper-
ations in the state.
Professor Guilbert reasoned that if
feeder and fat cattle can be graded, pure-
bred cattle can be classified in a similar
way. Observing that there was about 33
per cent difference in the price paid for
a common feeder steer and that for a
fancy feeder, he developed the present
University of California Grading Guide
( page 4 ) — whereby animals can be evalu-
ated on conformation, quality, character,
and type.
He used numbers rather than names
for the various grades. For example,
cattle that fall into the No. 1 grade corre-
spond to fancy feeders. Under his sys-
tem only those animals that would stand
high in the show ring in the larger shows
of the country are eligible to be graded
in this bracket. They are the so-called
herd-sire prospects and of course would
include the top end of really good breed-
ing cows. Guilbert put a "plus" and
"minus" on the numbers in order to
represent the so-called top, medium, and
low in each grade.
In addition he attached a certain per-
centage on each grade so that the data
collected from records could be statisti-
cally analyzed. For example, a 1- animal
according to this system would be 93 per
cent perfect in conformation, character,
and type. The other grades — 2, 3, and
4 — were also divided into plus and minus
and were given certain percentage rat-
ings. Thus the cattle falling into the 2
grade would correspond to a choice
feeder and were given an 88 per cent
rating. The 3 grade would represent a
good feeder, and the 4-bracket animals
would be equal to mediums.
The Score Card on page 5 was devel-
oped to supplement the Grading Guide.
It lists the main points of conformation
a judge would consider in judging or
grading an animal.
A numerical score value is assigned
each of these points. Feet and legs receive
10 points. Depth and thickness, natural
fleshing, etc., are included in the Score
Card and assigned a certain number of
points. For example, if No. 5 animal (See
Score Card, page 5) receive the number
of points listed under the various head-
ings, his total rating would be 81, or a
grade of 3+.
The Score Card helps demonstrate how
to grade animals and is useful for the be-
ginner in arriving at the proper grade.
[3
Grading is not an exact science. No in-
strument has yet been developed in which
an animal can be placed and the exact
grade recorded, but good judges of ani-
mals can readily learn to grade cattle.
Grading attempts to measure all beef
cattle with the same yardstick. It differs
from ordinary judging in that it classifies
an animal not only in relation to the indi-
viduals in its group but also in relation
to the beef-cattle population as a whole.
Thus a bull grading a 2 in Colorado
should grade 2 in California.
To conduct a
Record of Performance program . . .
1. Enroll your herd by contacting your
University of California Farm Advisor.
He will tell you what supplies you
need, explain the official rules, and ar-
range for the first grading of the herd.
2. Supply yourself with the following:
a) An accurate breeding and calving
record of the herd.
b) A herd book with a separate record
sheet for each cow. (The University fur-
nishes these record sheets.)
c) A suitable binder for the record
forms. (You can buy this from most sta-
tionery stores. One such binder is the
Wilson-Jones style SS slotted-lock sec-
tional binder No. 278-31.)
d) A stock scale for weighing individ-
uals.
GRADING GUIDE FOR BEEF CATTLE RECORDS OF PERFORMANCE
Grade
Breeding cattle
Market cattle
Desig-
nation
Numerical
value
Feeders
Slaughter
1 +
1
1-
2 +
2
2-
98-100
95-97
92-94
89-91
86-88
83-85
The top of the grade represents outstanding ani-
mals in strong competition. The middle and
lower end of the grade represents excellent
breeding animals from standpoint of type, con-
formation, quality, and character, capable of
making a good showing in strong competition.
Strictly
fancy or
select
Top
piime
Cows in grade 2 +, 2, 2 - are good enough to re-
tain for breeding test in purebred herds. This is
a practical top for commercial cattle. The top of
the grade (2+) represents the best of range
bulls; the lower end, of herd bulls. Cattle in
this grade are well down the line or out of the
money in strong competition.
Choice
Prime
to top
choice
00 CO CO
1 +
80-82
77-79
74-76
Cows should be culled from purebred and some
commercial herds. Cows in this grade are usu-
ally the low end of commercial cattle. Bulls are
rarely capable of making much improvement
except on very plain cattle.
Good
to
medium
Medium
to
common
Choice
to
good
4 +
4
4-
71-73
68-70
67
Plain, upstanding, thin-fleshed, slow-maturing
cattle, lacking in quality and character, and
having serious defects of conformation should be
culled from commercial herds.
Commer-
cial to
utility
[4
e) Standard record forms to assure
uniformity.
3. Follow these rules:
a) Use a uniform system of grading,
so that the animals of a certain grade
will be comparable in all the herds in the
state.
b) Include all herd animals over six
months of age in the program. Castrated
bull calves should be graded and weighed
as steers.
c) All animals should be weighed and
graded as calves between the ages of 6
and 8 months; yearlings between 15 and
18 months; and two-year-olds (optional)
between 24 and 30 months. The final
weighing and grading should take place
at 4 years.
d) The recommended season for grad-
ing and weighing is when the majority of
the calves are weaned (6 to 8 months).
Off-season calves should be weighed by
BEEF CATTLE GRADING — SCORE CARD (Score for Animal Number)
Points of conformation
Value
l
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
General type, appearance,
and scale — weight for age*
1-10
8
Thickness of body
Depth of body
1-10
8
1-10
7
Smoothness of body
1-5
4
Natural fleshing
1-10
8
Head
1-5
4
Neck and shoulders
1-5
3
Crops and ribs
1-5
1-10
3
Loin and back
9
Rump
1-10
9
Round
1-10
8
Legs and feet
1-10
10
Total
81
The following table is recommended for scoring weight-for-age on the score card.
Age Heifers and cows Bulls
180 days 390 lb. 440 lb.
210 days 440 lb. 510 lb.
240 days 480 lb. 560 lb.
15 months 730 lb. 1.000 lb.
25 months 1,000 lb. 1,400 lb.
30 months 1,030 lb. 1,450 lb.
6 years 1,220 lb. 2,000 lb.
[5]
the breeder when weaned. They will later
be officially graded.
e) The weight of calves raised on nurse
cows is superficial and should not be used
in figuring averages for the herd; but
you can use their grade in calculating the
average grade of the herd. Calves prop-
erly supplemented by creep-feeding while
nursing their mothers can be included in
all the records of this program. It is not
permissible to use for these records the
weights and grades of calves being fitted
for show that have been heavily supple-
mented while nursing their mothers. Do
not creep-feed calves unless the herd is
being maintained under adverse feeding
conditions.
f) Use the middle percentage of the
grade in calculating the 240-day adjusted
weight for calves. As an example, with a
2+ = 91-90-89, use 90.
g) Birth weights of all calves are ad-
visable.
h) Use the "Remarks" column for
notes. They will be very valuable at later
gradings. After regrading an animal, it
is helpful to refer to previous grades and
remarks.
i) An annual summary of all herds co-
operating on this program should be
made each year, similar to the annual
summary of the cow-testing association
work. It should be made by the farm ad-
visor and a copy mailed to the livestock
specialist by January 1. The information
is important for evaluating the progress
of this program.
Grading and weighing
A good time to start the record-of-
performance and grading program in a
herd is when the majority of the calves
are about seven months of age — usually
at weaning time. Have each animal in the
herd over six months weighed and graded
and record the information (See Field
Sheet). There is no need to weigh and
grade mature animals (over four years)
except at the beginning of a program. All
grading will be done by some official
representatives of the University — farm
advisors, livestock specialists, or animal
husbandry staff members.
The farm advisor in the county where
the herd is located should help the
breeder fill out properly the herd book
for each breeding cow, following the first
weighing and grading. The book can then
be turned over to the owner, and it will
be largely his responsibility to record the
succeeding weighings and gradings. It is
highly important that this herd book be
kept up-to-date.
Individual Life Record of Dam
This record (see page 11) provides com-
plete information on each cow and her
production. You will see on the first part
of this record sheet places to record the
owner's name, the breeder's name, the
average grade and weight of the cow, and
her name, registration number, tattoo
number, and birth weight. Space is also
provided for her complete pedigree and
the data on her individual weight and
grade.
The second part of this sheet is the
Produce Record. Here we keep informa-
tion on the calves she produces. Items 1
to 12 include data of the calf from birth
to weaning time. Columns 13 to 16 are
for data on any of her calves that have
been feed-lot tested for rate and economy
of gain. Yearling data are recorded in
columns 17 through 19. The Remarks
column is important and should be filled
with pertinent information.
The back of the record sheet is a con-
tinuation of the Produce Record. The
second half is the space provided for
recording breeding and calving dates.
Column 10 of the Produce Record —
"Adjusted weight" — is for the purpose
of comparing calf weights on an equal
basis of 240 days of age, approximately
eight months. The table on page 14 is
On pages 10 to 19 are shown the forms you will use in keeping your
herd records.
re
for your convenience in calculating the ing (average age 7 months) until they
age of a calf in days. have reached a low-choice live-slaughter
For example, if a calf was born on grade. This can be done by sire groups or
January 4 and weaned on August 8 he individually.
would be 216 days old at time of wean- Heritability for rate and economy of
ing. (Subtract 4 days for January from gain in beef cattle is high (see below),
the figure 220 under the column August, Bulls that gain rapidly and use their feed
opposite the date 8.) But suppose a calf efficiently tend to sire calves that are high
was born on November 1 and Weaned on in these two departments of production.
July 4 the following year, and you want It is important that the test be con-
its age at time of weaning. Run your ducted carefully and accurately, since
finger down the July column to the fourth considerable cost and labor are involved,
day, and you find the figure 185. Add Remember too that grading and feedlot-
this to 365 (days in a full year), getting testing cattle does not necessarily make
a total of 550. Subtract 305 (found under them desirable breeding animals. Record
the November column, first day), and keeping, selection, and culling are also
you get 245. necessary.
Equip yourself suitably. Good stock
The Get of Sire Record scales, corrals, and feeding equipment
This record (see page 13) is provided to are essential. Scales should be checked
record data on all calves sired by each by the County Sealer of Weights and
individual bull. One sheet should be used Measures before weights are taken at the
to record all bull calves and another sheet beginning and end of the test. Such scales
for all heifer calves by the same sire, may need to be tested at intervals during
Information on this record sheet is the the feeding experiment. Corrals should
most important of all. When the data are be big enough so that the bulls can get
accurately and completely recorded they proper exercise— 200 square feet per
can be readily used as a guide for culling bull. Feeding troughs and racks should
and for posting data on the dam-record allow ample feeding space and should be
sheet.
On page 15 is an example of how to ,_, . x ....^ ,_ .. , T . x .
ii t ^ .1 n , Heritability Estimates of Traits in
record data on the Get oi bire Kecord.
The back of the Get of Sire sheet pro-
vides a place for the sire's pedigree and Trait Heritability
other individual data, such as age, (Percent)
weight, and condition at the various Bjrth weight 34
times he has been graded and weighed. Weaning weight 30
Fill out completely the Average Produce Final feed lot weight 94
Record on the back of this sheet. You Gain in feed lot 97
can get the data for this from the infor- Efficiency of gain 48
mation on the front. Each item required Birth weight 53
is simple and self-explanatory. Weaning weight 28
Weight at 15 months 86
Feedlot-testing bulls . . . Rate of aain on feed 65
... . Weaning score 28
This is an important part of the beef- S | aughter steer grade 45
cattle improvement program. Feedlot- Carcass grade 33
testing bulls for rate and efficiency of Area of eye muscle 68
gain is a good supplement to the weigh-
ing and grading project. Bulls or heifers L ^Si™>!t£!£^^ nLSSStftS,
being tested should be full-fed after wean- Quesenberry, 1951).
[71
constructed to minimize error from
waste of feed. Some shelter may be neces-
sary during stormy weather.
The ration should be simple, prac-
tical, and in keeping with feeds available.
Ground barley, dried molasses beet pulp,
cottonseed cake or meal, salt, and bone
meal will be suitable in most areas. Hay
should be part cereal and part legume.
Be careful to feed high-quality hay that
has a good green color to prevent Vita-
min-A deficiency. Hay can be fed free
choice and either chopped or long.
Here is a suggested ration:
60 lb. ground barley
30 lb. molasses beet pulp
10 lb. cottonseed cake 41-43 per cent
1 lb. salt
1 lb. bone meal
Record the weight of feed fed each
group daily, and summarize actual con-
sumption at 28- or 30-day intervals. This
includes hay as well as concentrates.
Feed concentrates at the rate of l 1 /^
pounds of concentrate to every 100
pounds of live weight when animals are
on full feed. For example, a 600-lb. bull
would receive 9 pounds of concentrates
per head daily. The concentrate feed
should be adjusted at the beginning of
each 30-day test period.
Another procedure is to maintain the
same proportion of concentrate and
roughage constant for all lots. This may
be more desirable for standardizing the
feed and interpreting the data. A good
ratio would be 60 per cent concentrate,
40 per cent roughage. This avoids forc-
ing a group with a high feed capacity to
eat a larger proportion of roughage of
lower nutritive value, which affects ap-
parent over-all efficiency in terms of total
feed. For the present, limit feed-lot test-
ing to the dry lot. Feed consumed while
grazing on pasture cannot be accurately
measured.
Bulls to be tested should be of about
the same age. Use only animals grading
2- and better. Weigh and grade them at
the beginning of the test, which will in
most cases be after they are on full feed,
or about 2 weeks after weaning. Weigh
and grade carefully and uniformly.
If they have not been creep-fed, take
about two weeks to bring them to full
feed. Feed them twice daily, separately,
by sire groups or individually. For sig-
nificant results in sire groups, eight ani-
mals are about the minimum number to
feed. In some cases smaller numbers may
be fed.
When the bulls are on full feed at the
beginning of the test, stand them over-
night in a dry lot without feed or water.
Weigh the next morning early (about 6
a.m.) before feeding. This will be the
initial weight. At the end of the feeding
tests and for each 30-day period, follow
the same weighing procedure as at the be-
ginning.
Record both the United States
Slaughter Grade and the University
of California Grade. Weigh and grade
at the end of each 30 days of feeding. The
grading at the beginning and end should
be done very carefully; some help from
a specialist may be desirable. Try to feed
all the animals to the same degree of
market finish, which should be the low-
choice grade. Usually about a 150-day
feeding period will be required to reach
such a grade. Some animals finish sooner
than others. If considerable variation
occurs within a sire group, individuals
may be removed from the test when they
have attained the desired degree of finish
and the remainder continued. This top-
ping-out gives a truer evaluation of aver-
age efficiency because continued feeding
of already fat animals will pull down the
average.
At the close of the feeding test sum-
marize the data and prepare a narrative
report. Reports should be as uniform as
possible. One similar to the report on the
feeding test conducted in Monterey
County by Albaugh, Guilbert, and Muii
is a suggested sample. This report is
available in each farm advisor's office.
Other tables may be added. This will de-
[8]
pend on the needs of the individual,
ranch, or county.
After the data have been summarized,
a meeting should be held to acquaint
local cattlemen with the beef-improve-
ment program and to present the results
of the experiment. Conformation and
type grade should be emphasized as well
as rate of gain and feed utilization.
Limited feeding in the
bull-indexing program . . .
The heritability of the gains made by
bulls on a limited-feeding program is
not known. Considerably more research
needs to be done before we will know if
bulls can be adequately indexed on this
basis. To breeders who have expressed
interest in the possibilities of limited
feeding of prospective herd sires, we sug-
gest the following method. (In this con-
nection it is advisable to work closely
with the Extension Service and the Uni-
versity, so that you may get as much in-
formation as possible.)
The ultimate objective is to deter-
mine the correlation between the gains
made by a prospective herd sire on lim-
ited feeding of concentrate and the gains
of his progeny on full feed. If such a
correlation were high enough one might
use the limited-feeding program in index-
ing bulls as an aid to selecting herd sires.
The immediate objective is to de-
termine the variation in rates of gain
and feed efficiency of limited-fed bulls.
If little variation between bulls is ob-
tained, it would be hard to select accu-
rately the most rapidly gaining and most
efficient bull. In this case it would prob-
ably be unnecessary to carry the studies
further.
If, however, it is possible to obtain
rather large differences in rates of gain
and feed efficiency between limited-fed
bulls, it would be well to pursue the prob-
lem further, to determine the capacity of
these bulls for transmitting their ability
to gain.
Take these four steps:
1. Select as many young bulls as possible
from the progeny of one sire.
2. Feed individually if possible, using the
rate given in the next paragraph.
3. Carry all bulls to the same degree of
finish, probably low-good.
4. Determine the variation in rates of
gain and efficiency of feed-utilization be-
tween bulls.
The rate of limited feeding should
be — concentrate, 1.0 pound per 100
pounds of body weight; hay, free choice.
The concentrate allowance of the lim-
ited-fed bulls is enough to meet their
maintenance requirement for TDN. Un-
der such a feeding program, therefore,
the ability of the bulls to utilize a high
roughage-low concentrate ration is being
determined. This is an important consid-
eration in feeding ruminants.
Do your results
justify continued study?
If you feel that the difference in rates
of gain between bulls is enough to war-
rant further investigation, we recom-
mend the following steps:
1. Breed as many of the tested bulls as
possible to comparable cows so that at
least 10 steer progeny from each bull will
be available for progeny-testing.
2. Group-feed the progeny of each sire on
a full-feeding program to choice slaugh-
ter condition.
3. Keep as accurate records as possible
on rates of gain and efficiency of feed
utilization.
4. Make records available to the Univer-
sity for determination of the heritability
estimates. Such estimates will enable you
to determine if the gaining ability of the
sire on limited feed is a good indication
of the gaining ability of his progeny on
full feed.
On pages 10 to 19 are shown the forms you will use in keeping your
herd records.
[9]
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GET OF SIRE RI
UNIVERSITY OF CAL
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Here is a typical Get of Sire Record form. Its use is
described on page 7
[13]
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Here is the back side of the Get of Sire Record— the
following pages explain the entries.
[14]
GET OF SIRE RECORD
Column Example
1. Tattoo number of calf 163
2. Date of birth 1/10/48
3. Birth weight 65 lb.
4. Date weaned 7/5/48
5. Weaning age in days (actual number of days from date of birth to
weaning date) . Use numerical day calendar 177
6. Weight in pounds (actual weight on day of weaning) 435
7. Daily gain from 70-pound birthweight (or actual birth weight) 2.06
Weaning weight (col. 5, minus 70) , ..
-g B — -— = average daily gain
Weaning age (col. 4)
Example: 435 2.06
-70 177)365.00
354
365
1100
1062
38
8. Adjusted 240-day weaning weight 564
Average daily gain (col. 6) x 240 + 70 = adjusted 240-day weight
Example: 2.06 494
x 240 +70
8240 564
412
494.40
9. Rating on weights and gain -20
This is determined from the average adjusted 240-day weaning weight
of either all of the bull calves, or all of the heifer calves in the
herd. This average adjusted 240-day weaning weight of all bull or
heifer calves is secured by :
(a) the total of the adjusted 240-day weaning weight (col. 7) for all
bull calves in the herd, divided by the number of bull calves
weighed.
or
(b) the total of the adjusted 240-day weaning weight (col. 7) for all
heifer calves in the herd, divided by the number of heifer calves
weighed.
[15 1
Each individual calfweight (col. 7) is then rated a + (plus) or minus
(-) with the number of pounds above or below the average adjusted
240-day weaning weight for all bull or heifer calves.
The terms "excellent" and "good" may be used for those with a plus,
and "fair" or "poor" for those with a minus.
Example :
Adjusted weaning weight for
entire bull calf herd 584 lb.
-564 lb. adjusted weaning weight —
this bull calf
Rating on wts. - 20
10. Grade (the grade given calf at weaning) .
11. Grade percentage (this is the percentage value of the assigned grade) .
(Taken from grading-guide table.)
Example :
2+ = 91
2 =88
3+ = 82
12. Days on feed 120
13. Average daily gain 2.2
Total net gain . , .,
— — — = Average daily gain
Days on feed
2.2
Example: 120)264.0
240
240
240
14. Feed per 100 lb. gain 640
Total feed consumed x 100 . , _ __ „
— — = leed per 100 lb. gain
lotal net gain
Example : 640
264)169,000
1,584
1,690 1,060
x 100 1,056
169,000 40
15. Grade 2+
[16]
Totals and Averages
Column
2. Average calving date
From column 5, average days figures back from weaning date.
5. Total of column . .
— : — ; : = average weaning age in days.
No. oi entries in column
6. Total of column
No. of entries in column
7. Total of column
No. of entries in column
8. Total of column
No. of entries in column
= average weight in pounds.
= average daily gain.
= average adjusted 240-day weaning weight.
9. Average weight column 8 compared with average of all bull (heifer) calves in
herd.
13, 14, 18, 19. — See instructions for 9 and 10 above.
ANNUAL SUMMARY
Beef Cattle Record-of-Performance
and Grading Program — 19
1. Name of breeder
2. Address of breeder
3. Breed of cattle
4. Number of years records have been kept on herd
5. Number of cattle in the herd by age and grade:
Cows Bulls Heifers Bulls
(2 yr. and over) (2 yr. and over) (2 yr. and under) (2 yr. and under)
1 1 1 1
1- 1- 1- 1-
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
2 2 2 2
2- 2- 2- 2-
3+ 3+ 3+ 3+
3 3 3 3
[17]
6. Animals removed from herd:
Sold for slaughter
Held Sold for Acct. Acct. Acct. Acct. Acct.
for range breeding age quality ancestry health shy breeder
Cows, 3 years and over
2+
2
2
3+
Heifers, 2 years and under
2+
2
2-
3+
Bulls, 3 years and over
2+
2
2
3+
Bulls, 2 years and under
2+
2
2-
3+
Castrated Number
2+
2 ~
2-
3+
7. The average 240-day adjusted weight and average grade of all calves produced in
19
Heifers Bulls
Weight Weight
Grade Grade
8. Has the Get of Sire sheet been analyzed and supplied to the breeder by the farm
advisor each year?
Yes No...
[18]
> 9. Has the cooperator maintained a good complete herd book?
Yes No
I
10. Are birth weights of calves being obtained?
Yes No
f 11. Is any feeding program being carried out in this herd to determine rate and
efficiency of gain?
Yes No
^ 12. Will additional herds be added to the program in your county this year? If so,
how many?
Yes Number No
[19]
Day of any
month
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
Jane
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Not.
Dec.
1
1
32
60
91
121
152
182
213
244
274
305
335
2
2
33
61
92
122
153
183
214
245
275
306
336
3
3
34
62
93
123
154
184
215
246
276
307
337
4
4
35
63
94
124
155
185
216
247
277
308
338
5
5
36
64
95
125
156
186
217
248
278
309
339
6
6
37
65
96
126
157
187
218
249
279
310
340
7
7
8
38
66
97
127
158
188
219
250
280
311
341
8
39
67
9 8
128
159
189
220
251
281
312
342
9
9
40
68
99
129
160
190
221
252
282
313
343
10
10
41
69
100
130
161
191
222
253
283
314
344
11
11
42
70
101
131
162
192
223
254
284
315
345
12
12
43
71
102
132
163
193
224
255
285
316
346
13
13
44
72
103
133
164
194
225
256
286
317
347
14
14
45
73
104
134
165
195
226
257
287
318
348
15
15
46
74
105
135
166
196
227
258
288
319
349
16
16
47
75
106
136
167
197
228
259
289
320
350
17
17
48
76
107
137
168
198
229
260
290
321
351
18
18
49
77
108
138
169
199
230
261
291
322
352
19
19
50
78
109
139
170
200
231
262
292
323
353
20
20
51
79
110
140
171
201
232
263
293
324
354
21
21
52
80
111
141
172
202
233
264
294
325
355
22
22
53
81
112
142
173
203
234
265
295
326
356
23
23
54
82
113
143
174
204
235
266
296
327
357
24
24
55
83
114
144
175
205
236
267
297
328
358
25
25
56
84
115
145
176
206
237
268
298
329
359
26
26
57
85
116
146
177
207
238
269
299
330
360
27
27
58
86
117
147
178
208
239
270
300
331
361
28
28
59 f
87
118
148
179
209
240
271
301
332
362
29
29
88
119
149
180
210
241
272
302
333
363
30
30
89
120
150
181
211
242
273
303
334
364
31
31
90
151
212
243
304
365
Table for calculating nu
on pages 6 and 7.
mber of days between two calendar
During a leap year, be sure to count
dates. Its use is explained
29 days in February.
20
and fLCie . . <
are illustrations of the various University of California grades of beef cattl<
Top to bottom on this page are grades 1 and 1-.
,_
,
li^^V *3m
m^: J -r
m
Top bull on opposite page is University of Cali-
fornia Grade 2+.
Bull above grades 3+.
Bull at the left grades 2.
Bull at left (below) grades 2-
Bull below (this page) grades 3-.
I
■.. :|;
; «■■ ■'■'
;- ■■■- - ■:■/■ f
,-*',*,-
These thick, deep-bodied, well-grown-out heifers are a desirable type for use as replacements.
These plain, narrow, upstanding heifers are the type that should be culled from the herd.
:" \
Vi- ...»#■■
*•■>■«:■*.::
'
[24]
COMMERCIAL HERDS
Improvement of commercial herds by
selective breeding can be based on a 100-
cow herd, with 20 per cent replacement
per year.
Set up your program in this way:
1. Pick out the top females of breeding
age for the select herd.
2. Weigh and grade cows in selected herd.
3. Breed this herd in a separate field.
4. Use the best bulls you have available
with the select herd.
5. Where possible select bulls for rate
and efficiency of gain, as well as type,
conformation, and pedigree.
6. At weaning, cull from the select herd
those cows that fail to produce good-type
growthy calves.
7. Also at weaning, weigh and grade the
calves.
8. Make first selection of replacement
heifers when they are weaned.
9. Make final selection when heifers are
ready to go into breeding herd.
10. Top heifers should go to the select
herd ; others in the general herd.
11. The select herd may be increased in
size to produce all replacements for both
herds.
The select herd
40 cows (85 per cent calf crop) produce
17 steers for market
8 replacement for select
herd
17 heifers i 6 replacement for general
herd
3 for market
The general herd
60 cows (80 per cent calf crop) produce
24 steers for market
{6 replacement for general
herd
18 for market
Select cows and heifers for:
weight for age;
good milking ability;
regular breeding ability;
good type and conformation;
early maturity; and
production of top-quality calves.
Cull cows for:
age;
poor milking ability;
irregular breeding; and
poor type and conformation.
Selection of individual animals for re-
placement purposes in the breeding herd
has been practiced by breeders and com-
mercial stockmen for many years. It is
the basic method by which improvement
in quality and changes in the type of
domestic livestock have been brought
about.
This process of selection of replace-
ment females — plus the use of better bulls
and better feeding and management prac-
tices — has brought about continued im-
provement in the quality of cattle pro-
duced on California farms and ranges.
Two methods may be used in the
selection of replacement females for the
breeding herd.
(1) The more common method is
called "mass selection" or "herd selec-
tion." All of the bulls are turned in to
the breeding herd; and when the calves
are weaned, the best heifers are selected
out and held over for replacements. Such
a program, carefully followed with top-
quality bulls, provides the means for im-
proving quality and production. How-
ever, it does not use to full advantage
animals of superior breeding and quality.
An exceptionally good bull, with access
to the entire herd, may breed an equal
number of good and poor cows. Since the
calves will be like their parents, more
[25]
uniformity and better quality of off-
spring may be expected if breeding is
restricted to a group of superior animals.
(2) The second method, which will
produce the most rapid progress, is that
of breeding enough of the best cows to
the best bulls to supply the heifers neces-
sary for replacement. These heifers give
greater assurance of breeding true for
high production. Such a method requires
some planning. It may necessitate addi-
tional cross-fencing and other changes in
herd management.
Here is a step-by-step
outline to follow:
1. Management. Separate, well-
fenced pastures or fields holding the se-
lected herd during the breeding season
are necessary. Depending on the size of
the herd, available fields, and other facili-
ties, dividing the herd into sire groups
of 20-40 cows each may be possible.
Where this can be done, it will provide
for a closer check on the producing abil-
ity of individual bulls.
Good feeding practices must accom-
pany a program of selective breeding.
Favor the selected herd as to feed, par-
ticularly during the breeding season. Un-
less replacement heifers are well grown
out, they may not fully reveal their in-
herited abilities.
Stock scales are a good investment,
since a record of weight for age is ex-
tremely helpful in a selective-breeding
program.
2. Selection of cows. About one half
of the breeding herd will be required to
supply the normal heifer replacement of
20 per cent per year in the average range
herd. You may wish to begin your selec-
tive breeding program with fewer top
cows and gradually build up your herd
with selected heifers.
Weaning time is an ideal time to make
the first selection. Choose the deep-
bodied, thick-fleshed cows that have
raised good-quality, heavy calves and
still maintain thrifty condition. Consider-
ation should also be given to lower-
grading cows that produce calves above
the average in weight and conformation.
Regular breeding and long life are im-
portant. And while of less importance
than some other factors, gentleness is an
inherited quality and is reflected in the
gains made by steers in the feedlot.
It is very desirable to obtain the aver-
age weight and grade of the selected
cows. Cows may be weighed as a group,
then each animal graded individually but
without the necessity of individually
identifying each one.
3. Identification. Selected cows
should be properly identified. Some type
of ear mark, wattle, or a well-applied
number brand will remain as a perma-
nent identification. Eartags are the least
satisfactory as they are often pulled out
and lost. At the San Joaquin Experimen-
tal Range every animal is tattooed in one
ear, and the same number is branded on
the hip. For example, the number 352
means the animal was dropped in 1953
and was the fifty-second animal marked.
The number 352 is placed in the record
book beside the birth date of the animal.
Properly identified cows may be run with
the entire herd except during the breed-
ing season.
4. Selection of the bull. Use only
top-quality range bulls grading 2 or 2+
on the select cow herd. Any information
on rate and efficiency of gain and ability
to sire high-quality calves should be con-
sidered very important in choosing the
bull for the select cow herd. The lower-
grading bulls (should not grade lower
than 2-) can be used on the general herd.
Rotation of bulls will help to increase the
per cent calf crop.
5. Weighing and grading calves
after weaning. Calves should be
weighed and graded at weaning time as
was done with the cow herd. Average
group weights may be obtained, but aver-
age grades will be found by individual
grading without regard to individual
identification.
[26
6. Checking cows after weaning, herd. The best heifer calves should be
When the first calf crop is weaned, the identified for replacement or for increas-
cows should again be checked carefully ing the size of the selected herd. Surplus
and those that fail to produce satisfactory heifers can be used as replacements in the
calves should be returned to the general general herd.
In order that the information in our publications may be more intelligible it is sometimes necessary
to use trade names of products or equipment rather than complicated descriptive or chemical iden-
tifications. In so doing it is unavoidable in some cases that similar products which are on the market
under other trade names may not be cited. No endorsement of named products is intended nor is
criticism implied of similar products which are not mentioned.
Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economic?. College of Agriculture, University of California, and United States Department of Agriculture
co-operating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, and June 30, 1914. George B. Alcorn, Director, California Agricultural Extension Service.
15m-3,'56(B1173)
A simple ADJUSTED WEIGHT SCALE
Here's a means of estimating weights of
calves at a constant 240 days. Use a straight
edge to connect the appropriate figures in the
two outside columns . . . read the answer in
the center column.
Actual age in
days at time
of weaning
- 130
~ 135
■ 190
— 195
zr 200
■ 205
■ 210
' 215
=~ 220
=- 225
="- 230
1 235
240
245
250
255
260
265
270
275
Connect th
Actual weight
in pounds at
time of weaninc
Estimated weight
in pounds at 240
days of age
Read answer in
this column
60(
59(
53(
57'
56(
55(
54 (
53(
52(
51C
50(
49(
4SC
47C
46C
45C
44C
-£343(
-342C
41C
40:
39C
33C
37C
36(
35(
34(
33(
-3 31C
30C
is column
. . with this column
Please use this scale instead of the one
appearing on the back cover of Circular 451 .
Actual age in
days at time
of weaning
Estimated weight
in pounds at 240
days of age
Read answer in ^
this column T
Actual weight
in pounds at
time of weaning
Connect this column