Without accurate record keeping, animals cannot be represented to their full potential. Keep in mind that environmental factors can affect the weight of an animal at different points of life. To compare fairly, breeders should use adjusted weights when analyzing a contemporary group.
Birth weight: Collect within 24 hours of calving using either a scale or hoof tape. Birth weights are adjusted based on sex of the calf, and age and breed of the dam.
Calving Ease: Indicates how easily a calf was born, with scores 1-4 being used in the genetic evaluation.
1= Unassisted/Unobserved
2 = Easy Pull
3 = Hard Pull
4 = Cesarean
Weaning weight: Measure as close to 205 days as possible, with 100 to 310 days being acceptable.
Yearling weight: Measure as close to 365 days as possible, with 270-500 being acceptable (ultrasound scan data follows the same protocol as yearling weight data).
Docility: Can be assessed at weaning or yearling, and helps to score an entire group at one time.
1 = Docile (mild disposition, gentle, easily handled)
2 = Restless (quieter than average but may be stubborn during processing)
3 = Nervous (moderate amount of struggling and movement during processing)
4 = Flighty (jumpy and out of control and while struggle while processing)
5 = Aggressive (similar to score 4 with added aggression and fearfulness)
Contemporary Groups
Contemporary groups are defined as a set of animals raised in a similar environment that are the same age, sex, raised in the same location, and are managed alike. An animal’s environment cannot be inherited from sire and dam, so contemporary grouping helps to differentiate genetic potential from environmental influences. Reporting weights of only the best animals in a contemporary group is counterproductive, as it does not allow for true comparative performance of the entire calf crop. If animals are managed differently, it is critical that it be reported correctly in order to aid in prediction of genetic differences.
