You Be the Judge!

In the cattle industry, the key to having a successful breeding operation is to have a group of good breeding cows. When it all comes down to it, every cattleman has their own opinion and thoughts on what makes the best cow. However, there are many key things that are important to the make up of a functional cow who will pass on her traits to her offspring.

First, here are the parts of the breeding cow.





A diagram of my mature cow, Jinquette, Copyright Keltey Whelan

  

And here are the traits that make a functional cow.






Copyright Keltey Whelan

   

1.  When judging breeding cattle, you have to work from the ground up. Feet are number one. In order for a cow to last many years, she has to have a strong set of feet. The hooves should have no cracks or lesions. There should be at a reasonable angle (about 45 degrees) and should have flex to them.
2. The legs come next. The hind legs should also have an ideal angle, but not have too much set to them, causing them to be "sickle hocked". They cannot be too straight either, resulting in "post legs". The bone should be clean and flat and the hocks should be free from swelling. The cow should have an even, free stride.
3. The udder of the cow is of much importance, as they can't afford for it to fall apart at a young age. The four teats (where the milk comes out) should be evenly placed and of a reasonable size. The udder should hang square and be well attached to the cow.
4. Depth of body and spring of rib are what make up the cow's capacity. She needs to be capacious in order to carry a calf. Width through the chest right through the her pin bones is very desirable.
5. The cow's hook bones should be places slightly higher than her pins. Having this correct angle makes her uterus at a more appropriate angle while carrying a calf for ease of calving.
6. A female with more length of spine is always more desirable.
7. The shoulder is important. A correct angle (about 45 degrees) is desirable and we want it smooth.
8. The overall femininity is important as well. There should be refinement about the head, neck, shoulder, and brisket. She should have lots of extension in her front end.

Along with all of this, the cow should be balanced (well proportioned from end to end) and eye appealing (style, alertness).

In a successful herd of cattle, the cow plays a huge role, but the other part of the operation is the herd bull.





Canadian, one of our herd bull, Copyright Keltey Whelan

  

1. The feet are very important to the longevity of a herd bull. There should be no cracks or lesions and the hooves should point strait. The pasterns should be at a correct angle and have flex to them.
2. The legs are also important. The need to have a good set to them, not too strait or too much set, and the hocks should be clean and free of swelling.
3. The scrotum is key to the fertility of a bull. Since this is where the semen comes from, they should be adequate in size, and hang strait (not twisted)
4. The bull's crest shows his masculinity. The size of it is determined my maturity.
5. The bull should have superior muscling throughout, especially in the hind quarter.
6. Though the bull can be more massive in the shoulder than a female, it should still be level in the lines and smooth. A bull can pass on a bold shoulder characteristic to his offspring, which can ultimately cause difficult calving for the cow.
7. The bull should be rugged and masculine in his head, crest, and neck.
8. As in a female, length of body is desired.
9. The sheath should be compact to the body.
10. Overall, the bull's parts should blend smoothly together, he should be thick and wide, and appear healthy and alert.

All breeds of cattle have standards that they are judged on, and these characteristics are taken into consideration when cattle are kept and culled from the herd. In the end, there may not be complete agreement between two people on what they like in cattle, but there are basics that should always be taken into consideration. I have a true passion for judging cattle, and I hope that some of my knowledge can inform you on the basics of picking and judging cattle.