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A Comparison of Body Measurements of Beef and Dual Purpose Cattle

U. S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary report on the comparison of body measurements of beef and dual purpose cattle. Systematic measurements upon beef and dual purpose Shorthorn calves were started as a part of the record-of-performance research at Beltsville nearly two years ago. The purpose of this study was to furnish data upon changes which take place in body form of calves as age increases. The differences in type, growth and rate of maturity are expressed in terms of centimeters, pounds and per cent. The use of specific measurements produces data that are independent of the human factor that is so prevalent in experimental procedure.

The following method was used in obtaining the measurements. The calf is haltered with his head in an approximately normal position on a level concrete floor. The instruments used were a meter tape and two measuring rods calibrated in centimeters and half centimeters. The animal is placed as squarely as possible on his four legs. Two sets of measurements are taken and in the event that they do not agree within one per cent, a third measurement is taken. These are averaged to obtain the final value.