pelvic measurements

[Anonymous]

i am in the middle of trying to raise some heifers for replacement cows... first time to do this... i keep hearing about checking pelvic measurements to be sure it is adequate..

how is this done? and what are the minimum measurements one should consider adequate? thanks gene



[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

Don't worry about actual measurements. Bigger framed heifers will have bigger pelvic measurements. Get an experienced vet or A.I. technician to palpate them and they will tell you if the heifer has enough room for her size.

Jason Trowbridge Southern Angus Farms Alberta Canada

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

Pretty close but not exactly. Although usually a larger framed heifer will have a larger pelvic opening it doesn't always work out that way in fact. Of the two Red Angus heifers I have that had pelvic measurements done as yearlings, the 6.7 FS has a 155 the 5 FS has 178. They may be exceptions, but it's those exceptions that will bite you. I consider for a normal calving ease bull a minimum of 150 for pelvic, I really prefer around 160 but if all else is what I'm looking for I'll accept the smaller size.

dunmovin farms

> Don't worry about actual
> measurements. Bigger framed
> heifers will have bigger pelvic
> measurements. Get an experienced
> vet or A.I. technician to palpate
> them and they will tell you if the
> heifer has enough room for her
> size.

> Jason Trowbridge Southern Angus
> Farms Alberta Canada

 

[Anonymous]

i have read of instances exactly as you state... that an otherwise good heifer will for some reason be smaller than you would expect in the pelvic area.. and you said you like 160... my question is.. 160 what and how is that measurement taken.. i am somewhat experienced in palpating cows... i have palpated my small herd for a about 3 years and have palpated some for friends close by.. so i know the parts and area of work... lol but i dont know the standard by which to make these measurements... i just need a little guidance...

thanks for your responses

gene

> Pretty close but not exactly.
> Although usually a larger framed
> heifer will have a larger pelvic
> opening it doesn't always work out
> that way in fact. Of the two Red
> Angus heifers I have that had
> pelvic measurements done as
> yearlings, the 6.7 FS has a 155
> the 5 FS has 178. They may be
> exceptions, but it's those
> exceptions that will bite you. I
> consider for a normal calving ease
> bull a minimum of 150 for pelvic,
> I really prefer around 160 but if
> all else is what I'm looking for
> I'll accept the smaller size.

> dunmovin farms

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

Square centimeters. Here is a link that explains pelvic measurements: <A HREF="http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modaa/23300001.html" TARGET="_blank">http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modaa/23300001.html</A>

dunmovin farms

> i have read of instances exactly
> as you state... that an otherwise
> good heifer will for some reason
> be smaller than you would expect
> in the pelvic area.. and you said
> you like 160... my question is..
> 160 what and how is that
> measurement taken.. i am somewhat
> experienced in palpating cows... i
> have palpated my small herd for a
> about 3 years and have palpated
> some for friends close by.. so i
> know the parts and area of work...
> lol but i dont know the standard
> by which to make these
> measurements... i just need a
> little guidance...

> thanks for your responses

> gene

 

[Anonymous]

An idea of what you can find. My hand is 15cm across when my fingers are splayed. If I palp a heifer and I can fully spread my hand both vertically and horizontally, that is a 225 square cm. measurement. I actually use a proper caliper to measure and it is very simple to do. There have been studies on exactly how many sq. cm. needed for different breeds due to differences in calf shapes with breed. I read the info about 10 years ago and have no idea where to find it now.

 

[Anonymous]

That is what I heard from an old rancher... if you can spread your fingers wide apart in the birth canal, then a calf will come through... my question is: what is 15 centimeters? I don't do metrics, only inches, etc. Thank you.

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

Easy calculation.... 30cm=1 foot or 12 inches 15cm = 6 inches

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I measured my splayed hand and I can span eight inches.

[email protected]

 

[Anonymous]

There is a small freeware program called "Conversions" here:

<A HREF="http://www.gemtree.com/prog_c.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.gemtree.com/prog_c.htm</A>

It's great for converting nearly any type of measurement.

 

[Anonymous]

***** This is way cool. Thank you very much! > There is a small freeware program
> called "Conversions"
> here:

> <A HREF="http://www.gemtree.com/prog_c.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.gemtree.com/prog_c.htm</A>
> It's great for converting nearly
> any type of measurement.

[email protected]