Factors Affecting Size of Young Beef Cows

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Abstract
Analysis by least squares procedures provided estimates of the effects of date of measurement, breed, age and reproductive status on weight and eight body measurements of beef cows at 3 years of age. The body measurements studied were height at withers, height at hips, width at shoulders, width at hips, depth at chest, depth at rear flank, heart girth and body length. No trend associated with date of measurement was noted. Differences between breeds in weight and dimensions were small. Dry cows were about 100 lb. heavier than wet cows with greater dimensions in those measurements influenced by fatness. No consistent increase in weight or dimensions was associated with age over the range studied. Heritability estimates were 0.44 for weight, 0.41 for wither height, 0.69 for hip height, 0.40 for shoulder width, 0.11 for hip width, 0.71 for chest depth, 0.39 for rear flank depth, 0.46 for heart girth and 0.48 for body length. Copyright © 1964. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1964 by American Society of Animal Science