Cattle appraisal: what is it and how many times a year is it carried out, evaluation criteria

Cattle appraisal is an obligatory on-farm measure. Includes an overall individual score for each individual in the herd. The purpose of the event is to establish tribal and qualitative values, features of the subsequent use of cattle. Zootechnicians-breeders, researchers, farmers with higher veterinary education have permission to carry out appraisal.

Cattle grading: what is it

This is an event that is held on a regular basis to identify the most productive cattle in the herd.In the future, this will be needed to form a breeding stock or offspring. It is important to carry out the procedure on a continuous basis, as there is a natural loss of livestock due to diseases, infertility and similar phenomena. To compensate for the deficit, it is advisable to form a livestock of the best representatives of cattle.

Grading allows you to accurately determine the qualitative value of individuals. The data obtained is the basis for the distribution of livestock according to their intended purpose. A promising livestock is left for breeding, the rest - to replenish production goals (for meat, for milk production). The Ministry of Agriculture has developed the necessary instructions to regulate the specifics of the appraisal.

Appraisal classes

In total, 4 classes are distinguished in practice. Compliance of the animal is established after the grading. At the same time, KRS cannot always correspond to only one class. This is due to the fact that individuals grow and their performance changes every year.

Official classes:

1. Elite-record (ER) - the number of points scored exceeds 81.
2. Elite (E) - score range from 71 to 80.
3. 1 class (1K) - 61-70.
4. 2 class (2K) - 51-60.

The score differs by different scores in each of the categories. For productivity, the possible maximum is 60, for the constitution - 24, for the genotype - only 16. Each individual can score up to 100 points, but if the number is less than 50, it is considered an out-of-class variety. Such animals are not allowed to breed.

Most often they are immediately sent for slaughter, as they do not carry any value for the economy.

How many times a year should I do?

Britation to identify breeding value is carried out once a year. Young animals, castrated individuals, oxen are not allowed to participate.Evaluation of lactating cows is carried out after the full completion of feeding. Young animals are examined at least 6 months after birth. Bykov - at the onset of estrus.

Criteria for evaluating herd representatives

The first and main factors are gender, age. There are also several additional criteria for evaluating individual individuals. They will differ depending on the direction of the breed. Common to all - genetic information, equipment and appearance or exterior.

Otherwise the criteria are different:

1. For dairy cows - volume and quality of products, milking speed, udder readiness for automated milking.
2. Gobies - the ability to reproduce he althy offspring.
3. Young animals - quality of body development.

Additional criteria and explanations for scoring.

Criterion	How it goes appraisal
Birth (for young animals)	Careful study of documents, veterinary passport, parental pedigree. Conclusion - a purebred individual or a cross. body addition.
	In bulls - for the brightness of the breed, the structure of the hind limbs, the harmony of the exterior. "Excellent students" become individuals with developed in accordance with age withers, wide sternum, lack of interception on the shoulder blades, the correct shape of the legs.
Productivity (for cows)	Taking into account the volume of milk yield, fat content of milk, the rate of return. The data is verified in a specialized table. .The second option is the number of fertilized cows in one mating season.
	Cow grading is based on the length of the intercalving period, the course of the calving itself.
Quality of offspring	Sperm is collected from 12-month-old bulls. The resulting seed material is frozen. Then the same number of cows are inseminated. The born offspring are registered, checked for defects, deviations.

How to do it right?

It is important to prepare for the grading procedure. The preparatory stage includes checking the availability of accession numbers, collecting information about the maintenance and feeding of the individual. It is necessary to summarize the information collected throughout the year. Enter data into individual cards. The appraisal itself takes place in 4 stages:

1. Determining the breed of an individual.
2. Analysis of productivity or milk yield.
3. Inspection of the correct addition of the body and exterior.
4. Completes the procedure for scoring and the relation of the animal to the class.

For meat direction

Appearance plays a decisive role. The first parameters are entered into the personal card immediately after birth. In young animals of the meat direction, they look at the structure of the skeleton, the design of the chest and spine. When evaluating adult cows, muscle volume is important. Individuals are checked for a combination with established standards for chest development, actual body weight, and the presence of adipose tissue.

For dairy breeds

Basic - milk yield for the past 3 lactations. The data for appraisal should be taken from accounting journals, which are mandatory for keeping on a farm. The fat content of dairy products, the level of protein content is calculated. The data obtained are compared with the indicators of breeding cows.

For youngsters

Only live weight at birth and as of the time of evaluation, as well as genetic affiliation and physique are taken into account. Potential future productivity is also taken into account. Breed conformity is also determined. The first assessment is carried out when the young are 6 months old.

For bulls

Individuals are considered for purebredness and ability to reproduce breeding offspring. The quality of bulls is similar to the definition of the quality of cows. The scores are also identical. It is permissible to change the class and category of the bull, provided that the quality of its offspring increases.

Results of cattle appraisal

After scoring, the animal is given an overall score and assigned to one of five classes.Based on the identified classiness, individuals are divided into groups, the first of them is the main one (leading or breeding core). This includes the best cattle in terms of productivity and breeding qualities, which ensure further reproducibility of the herd. The second group - animals for the expansion of the herd. The third is cattle without breeding value for culling.

Appraisal is an evaluation procedure that allows you to establish the thoroughbredness and value of a particular individual in the herd.

Necessary for the formation of highly productive livestock. The study takes place in a number of ways. All individuals are subject to assessment, starting from 6 months of age. On the basis of the data received, groups of animals are formed: to obtain offspring, to expand the herd, for the speedy slaughter.

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