Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeds Board
One Last Sway-backed Debate
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="HerefordSire" data-source="post: 601935" data-attributes="member: 4437"><p><em>Authored by Harlan Ritchie (see page 10)...this appears to be basic stuff so I will try to find more information. I thought the following was interesting because Knersie shows to be from South Africa. By the way Knerise, elegant explanation...TY...My quest for knowledge has not been satified yet...in regards to swayed back bovines...the truth is all I am after...nothing more and nothing less. Not trying to be hard headed...the info provided so far doesn't fit my self set criteria.</em></p><p></p><p>....................................................The Topline</p><p></p><p>Cattle breeders in North America prefer a topline (spinal column) that has the following appearance:</p><p>1. As viewed from the side, a strong, level back, loin and rump and a flat tailhead.</p><p>2. As viewed from behind, a square rump with wide pinbones.</p><p>In South Africa and several other countries, researchers and breeders take issue with North Americans on their evaluation of the topline.</p><p></p><p>Rump and Tailhead</p><p>As noted above, the majority of North American cattle breeders and judges prefer a flat, level, square rump. However, South African animal scientists (Maree, 1977; McFarlane, 1976) content that a slightly sloping rump, whereby the pinbones are lower than the hipbones, is conducive to greater ease of calving. They have concluded that, as you reduce the vertical opening the cow has for calving; that is, you lessen the distance between the pelvic floor and the base of the tail. Some North Americans have accepted this concept but many others have not.</p><p></p><p>A tailhead that is set too far up into the rump is considered undesirable. In females, this condition is sometimes associated with a vulva that slants forward, which is not desirable from a hygienic and/or fertility standpoint.</p><p></p><p>Loin and Back</p><p>It had been suggested by South African scientists that weakness in the spine, just ahead of the hip, will cause difficulty in the birth of the fetus. This defect, coupled with high pinbones, may compound the calving problem. It would appear that nearly all breeders can agree that strength in this area (loin) is desirable. North Americans insist on a strong, straight spinal column all the way from the hipbones to the top of the shoulder. A weak or sagging back is more aesthetic than functional, however.</p><p></p><p>(WARNING: .pdf format)</p><p><a href="http://www.highlandcattleusa.org/images/Highland_Breeders_Guide_Book_&_Cover.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.highlandcattleusa.org/images ... _Cover.pdf</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HerefordSire, post: 601935, member: 4437"] [i]Authored by Harlan Ritchie (see page 10)...this appears to be basic stuff so I will try to find more information. I thought the following was interesting because Knersie shows to be from South Africa. By the way Knerise, elegant explanation...TY...My quest for knowledge has not been satified yet...in regards to swayed back bovines...the truth is all I am after...nothing more and nothing less. Not trying to be hard headed...the info provided so far doesn't fit my self set criteria.[/i] ....................................................The Topline Cattle breeders in North America prefer a topline (spinal column) that has the following appearance: 1. As viewed from the side, a strong, level back, loin and rump and a flat tailhead. 2. As viewed from behind, a square rump with wide pinbones. In South Africa and several other countries, researchers and breeders take issue with North Americans on their evaluation of the topline. Rump and Tailhead As noted above, the majority of North American cattle breeders and judges prefer a flat, level, square rump. However, South African animal scientists (Maree, 1977; McFarlane, 1976) content that a slightly sloping rump, whereby the pinbones are lower than the hipbones, is conducive to greater ease of calving. They have concluded that, as you reduce the vertical opening the cow has for calving; that is, you lessen the distance between the pelvic floor and the base of the tail. Some North Americans have accepted this concept but many others have not. A tailhead that is set too far up into the rump is considered undesirable. In females, this condition is sometimes associated with a vulva that slants forward, which is not desirable from a hygienic and/or fertility standpoint. Loin and Back It had been suggested by South African scientists that weakness in the spine, just ahead of the hip, will cause difficulty in the birth of the fetus. This defect, coupled with high pinbones, may compound the calving problem. It would appear that nearly all breeders can agree that strength in this area (loin) is desirable. North Americans insist on a strong, straight spinal column all the way from the hipbones to the top of the shoulder. A weak or sagging back is more aesthetic than functional, however. (WARNING: .pdf format) [url=http://www.highlandcattleusa.org/images/Highland_Breeders_Guide_Book_&_Cover.pdf]http://www.highlandcattleusa.org/images ... _Cover.pdf[/url] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeds Board
One Last Sway-backed Debate
Top