Preferred frame score

[Cattledog]

I was out in the barn tonight kicking out heifers and was wishing one of my heifers was a little bit bigger.  Yesterday, out of curiosity, I took a hip height measurement and she was right at a 5.5 frame.  I then started to think how many good moderate females I've seen this summer and thought that I may not be that far off.

What frame score do you like?

 

[Davis Shorthorns]

for me I would like to see about a 5.5 - 6 frame.  But I do have some bigger framed cows that I wouldn't get rid of.

 

[CPL]

A couple years ago I was at one of Dr. Schaake's camps and he said that 5, 6, and 7 frame scores were the ideal range for most modern cattle operations. In my opinion, if you are running cattle for a little more growth and performance (and show ring) you'd be best served with 6 & 7. And if you're running cattle on lower inputs and harsher environments - 5 & 6. I think anything less than 5 & greater than 7 are extremes and should be avoided. Just my opinion, unless of course you're raising lowlines or miniatures.

 

[Silver]

Its all relative to the cow but the smallest I like them is 5.5 and the largest is a 7.5. Ideally though a 6.5 really catches my eye.

 

[Aussie]

Must be frame 6 to 7.  Better to have two 650 kg cows wean two 300 kg calves that grow than three 500 kg cows that wean three 200kg calves. All our cattle are raised and finished on grass but would still rather finish a bigger calf. They reach the market specs quicker and you get paid by the finished kg. Sorry about talking in kgs don't know much about pounds. The talk about small cattle being efficient is rubbish the Lowline was breed by breeding small to small. I have shown them for clients and the cows will eat as much as a frame 6 to 7 angus not very efficient.

 

[sue]

The tall shallow bodied cattle look as bad as short shallow bodied cattle. I think if you can make 4.5 to 5.5 frame cattle deep and thick it's a better base for me. Length of hip and actual muscle/100cwt  have more to to with weight then just frame.  I realize the show ring is a total different deal. To assume that large frame = equals more lbs is soooo 80's.  O0
I would take a closer look at her thickness and depth of rib.

 

[HAB]

The tall shallow bodied cattle look as bad as short shallow bodied cattle. I think if you can make 4.5 to 5.5 frame cattle deep and thick it's a better base for me. Length of hip and actual muscle/100cwt  have more to to with weight then just frame.  I realize the show ring is a total different deal. To assume that large frame = equals more lbs is soooo 80's.   O0
I would take a closer look at her thickness and depth of rib.

I say ditto to what sue posted, and will just add length of spine.  Oh yeah, and they have to be able to travel.

 

[Show Heifer]

In my situation, I like 6.0-6.5. Anything smaller is impossible to sell either at barn or off the farm.
BUT... they have to have guts. They have to have capacity, and they have to be efficient.  
Those "gutless wonders" of the 80's will not sell regardless of frame score.
Short, nothing but guts will also not sell in my area.
A 6-6.5 frame also are the most flexible in my opinion and can be bred to go either way (frame them up, or frame them down)

 

[rkmn]

A couple years ago I was at one of Dr. Schaake's camps and he said that 5, 6, and 7 frame scores were the ideal range for most modern cattle operations. In my opinion, if you are running cattle for a little more growth and performance (and show ring) you'd be best served with 6 & 7. And if you're running cattle on lower inputs and harsher environments - 5 & 6. I think anything less than 5 & greater than 7 are extremes and should be avoided. Just my opinion, unless of course you're raising lowlines or miniatures.

Your paragraph pretty much sums up my thoughts on frame size.

 

[aj]

In my opinion all four legs need to touch the ground anyway.

 

[Aussie]

The tall shallow bodied cattle look as bad as short shallow bodied cattle. I think if you can make 4.5 to 5.5 frame cattle deep and thick it's a better base for me. Length of hip and actual muscle/100cwt  have more to to with weight then just frame.  I realize the show ring is a total different deal. To assume that large frame = equals more lbs is soooo 80's.   O0
I would take a closer look at her thickness and depth of rib.

Believe me I am not talking about going back to the days of giraffes I realize cattle have to have some guts in them. I have bought cattle for a packer for 22 years and all the cattle we buy are finished in pasture not feedlotted. All my comment is meaning you can not grow mice in to rats frame and guts weigh more than guts alone. Different country different set of production criteria.

 

[sue]

I recall a conversasion with Peter Vincient a few years back regarding US vs Aussie cattle ( SH). At the point during his tour here in the US - he felt most of our cattle were too short for that country? He had walked through the Cattle at the North American Show. You're right Aussie different country. Aussie-  Sounds like you're making money and so am I.