Frame Score in Beef Cattle

Apr 12, 2018 | On British Whites

Learning all about Frame Score in Beef Cattle is easy and something all beef cattle producers should be familiar with.

Hip height converted to frame score is a linear measurement that helps cattle producers evaluates lean-to-fat ratio potential of an individual animal in a performance program. No one frame size will be best for all feed resources, breeding systems, and markets. Large-framed animals tend to be heavier at all weights, leaner, and later maturing. Small framed animals tend to be lighter, fatter, and earlier maturing. Frame scores can be monitored to maintain body size, fatness level, and maturing rate within the optimum ranges dictated by the resources, breeding system, and market specifications of a herd.

Frame score is a convenient way of describing the skeletal size of cattle. With appropriate height and growth curves, most animals should maintain the same frame score throughout their life, regardless of when they are evaluated. However, frame scores may change for animals that mature earlier or later than average for their breed.

The recommended site for hip height measurement is a point directly over the hooks. This measurement should be adjusted to a weaning age endpoint of 205 days and to yearling age endpoints of 365, 452 or 550 days. The same age range guidelines as for weaning and yearling weights should be used.

Below are 2 table used to calculate the frame score on male and female cattle.

Age (months)

Bulls—hip height (cm)

Frame score
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
5 85 90 95 100 105 110 116 121 126 131 137
6 88 93 99 104 108 114 119 124 130 135 140
7 92 97 102 107 112 117 122 128 133 138 143
8 95 100 105 110 114 120 125 131 136 141 146
9 98 102 107 113 117 123 128 133 138 144 149
10 100 105 110 115 119 125 130 135 140 146 151
11 102 107 112 117 122 128 133 138 143 148 153
12 104 109 114 119 124 130 135 140 145 150 155
13 106 111 116 121 126 131 137 142 147 152 157
14 108 113 118 123 127 133 138 143 148 154 159
15 109 114 119 124 129 135 140 145 149 155 160
16 110 116 121 126 130 136 141 146 151 156 161
17 112 117 122 127 131 137 142 147 152 157 162
18 113 118 123 128 132 138 143 148 153 158 163
19 114 119 124 129 133 139 144 149 154 160 165
20 115 120 125 130 134 140 145 150 155 160 165
21 116 121 126 131 135 140 146 151 156 161 166
Mature bulls
24 118 123 128 133 137 142 147 152 157 163 168
30 120 125 130 135 139 145 150 155 160 165 170
36 122 127 132 137 141 146 151 156 161 166 171
48 123 128 133 137 142 147 152 157 162 167 172

 

Age (months)

Females—hip height (cm)

Frame score
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
5 84 89 94 99 105 110 115 120 126 131 136
6 87 92 97 102 107 113 118 123 128 134 139
7 89 94 100 105 110 115 121 126 131 136 141
8 92 97 102 107 112 117 122 128 133 138 144
9 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 130 135 140 145
10 96 101 106 111 116 121 126 131 136 141 147
11 98 103 108 113 118 123 128 133 138 144 149
12 99 104 109 114 119 124 130 135 140 145 150
13 101 105 110 116 121 126 131 136 141 146 151
14 102 107 112 117 122 127 132 137 142 147 152
15 103 108 113 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153
16 104 109 114 119 124 129 134 139 144 149 154
17 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 149 154
18 106 110 116 121 126 131 135 140 145 150 155
19 107 111 116 121 126 131 136 141 146 151 156
20 107 112 117 122 127 132 137 141 146 151 156
21 108 113 118 123 128 132 137 142 147 152 157
Mature cows
24 109 114 119 124 129 133 138 143 148 153 157
30 111 116 121 125 130 135 140 145 150 154 159
36 112 117 122 126 132 136 141 145 150 155 160
48 113 118 122 127 132 137 142 146 151 155 160

Frame score has been abused in its use to indicate superiority of one animal over another because of its height. Quite often people have relied on frame score to indicate weight when it would be far more sensible just to weigh the animal. With breeding cattle, weights can be used to produce EBVs—a much better predictor of weight.

As we have discussed, frame score can be a useful tool to indicate maturity of an animal. However, it should not be used in preference to other easily measured traits which give a better indication of market suitability or fitness for purpose.

In breeding cattle particularly, balanced selection for a number of productive traits which include fertility, growth and carcase quantity and quality should be practised.