Livestock Evaluation and Selection
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Livestock Evaluation: Predicting Efficiency, Maternal Traits, Longevity, and Carcass Merit, Slides of Biology
An overview of why livestock evaluation is important for predicting efficiency, maternal traits, longevity, and carcass merit. It covers various livestock types, including beef cattle, sheep, and swine, and discusses factors such as rate of gain, growth potential, calving ease, milking ability, structural correctness, and visual evaluation. It also includes examples and ideal market specifications.
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2012/2013
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Livestock Evaluation and Selection
Learning Objectives
I. Why Evaluate Livestock?
II. Current Meat Animal
Types
III. Sample Livestock
Evaluation Classes
A. To Predict Efficiency
1. Rate of gain – Amount of weight
gained compared to the amount of feed eaten a. Livestock that eat more gain more b. Difficult to predict from visual appraisal only c. Production and performance records are the best indicators
Efficiency Example
FFA Project- Market Lamb
Starting Weight: 75 lbs Ending Weight: 130 lbs Days on Feed: 60 days
130lbs – 75 lbs = 55 lbs gained
55 lbs gained /60 days on feed = .92 lbs gained per day
B. To Predict Maternal Traits
Beef Cattle
- Calving Ease- Indicators are -width of hooks and pins -levelness of rump -average to above average body size
- Milking Ability -udder development -femininity and angularity
Example of Femininity and
Angularity
Maternal Traits (cont.)
Swine
-Milking Ability determined by
- Udder development (gilt should display a prominent udder at puberty)
- Teat spacing, number, and placement
To Predict Longevity
Structural Correctness: The animals feet
and legs should indicate a long
productive life
**1. Feet and Legs - heaviness of bone and structural correctness is important for easy movement and longevity in confinement
- Body – Balance and body size help determine growth, health, and mobility**.
Which Steer is Heavier Muscled?
II. What is an Ideal Meat Animal?
A. Ideal Market Beef
- quality grade choice, adequate marbling, and under 24 months of age
- yield grade 1 or 2 = muscular with minimum fat
- rib eye area of 10 to 12 square inches
- yield a carcass between 500 and 750 lbs
II. What is an Ideal Meat Animal?
B. Ideal Market Hog
- lean with superior belly thickness
- width of ham > width through shoulder, and both wider than back
- 1.0 to 1.5 in. backfat and carcass length 27- 36 in.
- yield grade U.S. #
Sample Market Hog Animal
http://www.swine.net/contest/vlclass8.htm Docsity.com
Sample Market Lamb Animal
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/agmania/livestock/sheep/sheclass1.htm