1. Introduction to Livestock Judging and Evaluation Kenneth Geuns Michigan State University Dept. of Animal Science

2. Introduction to Beef Selection

3. Criteria for Beef Selection u Soundness u Structural u Reproductive u Volume and Capacity u Muscle u Skeletal Extension u Femininity/ Masculinity

4. Ideal Beef Heifer

5. Structural Correctness u Correct joint angles u Shoulder, knee, hock and pastern u Strong top u Level rump structure u Hooks to pins u Large, square foot u Adequate bone

6. Structurally Correct Heifer

7. Level rump Strong top Hock Angle Shoulder Angle Knee & Pastern Set

8. Structurally Correct Heifer

9. Correct Structure: Rear view

11. Straight Structured

13. Incorrect Hip and Hind Leg Structure Low Pin Set Too Much Set to Hock

14. Volume and Capacity u Most critical in beef production u “Fleshing Ability” u The ability for a mature female to maintain body condition while in lactation u Deep, bold-sprung ribs for feeding and breeding capacity u Wide-chested and wide-based

15. High Volume Heifer Deep Fore & Rear Flank

16. Muscle u Heavy muscled cattle are preferred if muscle pattern is long and smooth u Tight, round muscle can inhibit movement

17. Skeletal Extension u Long bodied, long fronted cattle are preferred u Cattle being too large in their frame can be detrimental u Problems with cattle that are “too big” u Females too large as mature cows u Feedlot cattle do not deposit marbling until excessive weights are reached

18. Frame Size u Measured with Frame Score u Considers both age and hip height u Ideal frame score range u British Breeds: 5 to Low 7 u Continental Breeds: 6 to High 7

19. Femininity u Females need to be refined through their shoulder, neck, and head u Vulvas need to be developed with correct udder structure

20. Correct Femininity

21. Masculinity u Bulls need to be masculine about their shoulder, neck and head, but not coarse u Bulls should have well developed testicles that are even in size u Minimum scrotal circumference requirements u Maternal sire: 34 cm u Terminal sire: 32 cm

22. Correct Masculinity

23. Importance of Testicle Size u Directly related to fertility u Bulls with more developed testicles have improved semen production u A larger scrotal size relates to a bull’s daughters reaching puberty at an earlier age

24. Introduction to Sheep Selection

25. Criteria for Sheep Selection u Soundness u Structural u Reproductive u Frame and Growth u Volume and Capacity u Muscle u Breed Character

26. Structural Correctness u Correct joint angles u Shoulder, knee, hock and pastern u Strong top u Level rump structure u Large, square foot u Adequate bone

27. Structurally Correct Ram

30. Structural Incorrectness

31. Reproductive Correctness u Developed vulva on females u Correct testicle development and shape on males

32. Frame and Growth u Larger framed sheep will be later maturing and stay leaner u Larger framed sheep will be growthier u Long fronted, long necked desirable u Correct frontends most critical in sheep u Smooth shoulder u Correct neck - shoulder junction

33. Large framed Long bodied Small framed Short bodied

34. Breed Differences Southdown Cheviot

35. Volume and Capacity u Critical for feeding and breeding capacity u Fleshing ability critical in ewe flock u Deep, bold sprung rib cage u Wide chested and wide based

36. Volume and Capacity

37. Muscle u Evaluated through the rump and top u Critical in all meat animal production

38. Breed Character u More highly emphasized than on hogs or cattle u Subjective evaluation on many breeds

39. Suffolk Breed Character u Black head and legs free from wool u Long, pendulous bell-shaped ear u Roman nose

40. Introduction to Swine Selection

41. Criteria for Swine Selection u Soundness u Structural u Reproductive u Scale and Length of Body u Muscle and Leanness u Volume and Capacity u Femininity/ Masculinity

42. Structural Soundness u Most critical in swine due to environment raised u Critical for: u Mobility and Longevity u Breeding position u Growth rate

43. Structural Soundness u Correct joint angles u Shoulder and hip angle u Set to hock, knee and pastern u Level top and rump u Even toe size u Adequate bone

44. Correctly Designed Skeleton

45. Improperly Designed Skeleton

46. Correct Hip and Hind Leg Structure Stifle Hock Pastern

47. Correct Shoulder and Front Leg Structure Knee Pastern

48. Level Top and Rump

49. Even Toe Size Correct, Even ToesSmall Inside Toe

50. Structural Incorrectness u Post-legged -> not enough set to hock and pastern u Sickle-hocked -> too much set to hind leg u Cow-hocked -> hocks come in when viewed from the rear u Bow-legged -> hocks go out when viewed from the rear u Pigeon-toed -> front legs toe in

51. Reproductive Soundness u Correct Underline u At least six, functional, well-shaped teats, evenly spaced on each side (gilts and boars) u Correct Vulva u Properly developed u Properly shaped

52. Reproductive Soundness u Correct Testicles u Well developed u Correct carriage u Correct Sheath u Tight u Correctly angled forward

53. Reproductively Sound Boar

54. Reproductive Unsoundness u Pin nipple -> undeveloped teat u Blunt underline -> teats lack prominence u Short teat count -> not enough nipples u Infantile vulva -> undeveloped u Tipped vulva -> turned up u Small or uneven testicles -> lacks size and uniformity

55. Scale and Length of Body u Large-framed, later maturing hogs will grow faster, more efficiently, and stay leaner than small-framed, early maturing hogs u Long bodied, long fronted hogs will normally be later maturing

56. Muscle and Leanness u Heavy muscled, lean breeding hogs desired u Must be obtained without sacrificing structural and reproductive soundness u Extremes in leanness can be detrimental to reproductive traits of females

57. Volume and Capacity u Deep, outward shaped rib with width of chest and base is desired for feeding and breeding capacity u Volume is 3 dimensional u Depth u Width u Length

58. Femininity/ Masculinity u Females should be long bodied with a long, clean neck and head u Females should be clean and flat in their bone u Males should also be long bodied and fronted but with stouter features (head, neck, bone and feet)