Comprehensive assessment (grading) of beef cattle

Purpose of the lesson. To study the methodology for a comprehensive assessment of beef cattle of different sex and age groups. Acquire practical skills in assessing the breeding and productive qualities of animals in order to determine their further use, select the most valuable of them and draw up a selection plan.

Visual aids and equipment. Instructions for grading beef cattle; materials on origin, growth, development, conformation and constitution; productivity and breeding qualities of animals determined for grading; workbooks with table forms for recording grading results; training farm meat breed animals; micro calculators.

Contents of the topic and methods of completing tasks. The constantly growing needs for meat and the need to obtain it with the least amount of feed costs set the main goal of increasing the meat productivity of livestock, creating breeds with high growth energy, a high coefficient of feed utilization, especially rough, succulent and pasture, and good payment for them in products. At the same time, animals must reach high body weights at a young (15-18 months) age and have high quality meat. In this regard, the direction of breeding work with meat breeds has recently changed. If earlier it was aimed at breeding compact animals of small or medium types, today when breeding beef cattle the task is to obtain and breed large animals with a large body weight, have well-developed muscles, high growth energy and are well paid for feed products.

The most important indicators of beef cattle selection are the growth rate of animals, improving the degree of feed utilization, increasing fertility, milk production and viability of young animals. In addition to the above indicators, recently considerable attention has been paid to assessing the nature of calving, the quality of carcasses, and the distribution of fat in it (subcutaneous, intermuscular and intramuscular).

To assess these indicators, farms engaged in breeding beef cattle annually carry out herd assessments and select the most valuable animals from them, which will be widely used to improve both individual herds and the breed as a whole.

1.2. Grading of beef cattle is a comprehensive assessment of livestock for breeding and productive qualities, which is carried out on all farms with breeding animals, regardless of affiliation and subordination.

1.3. The purpose of grading is to determine the complex class of livestock, depending on which their breeding and production purpose is determined.

1.6. Grading of beef cattle is carried out throughout the year when the animals reach a certain age.

1.7. All breeding stock is subject to valuation, with the exception of young animals up to 6 months old. and fattening animals.

1.8. The assessment of livestock of beef cattle is carried out by a commission consisting of:

Farm specialists (zootechnicians and veterinary specialists) - as appointed by the head of the enterprise;

Specialists with appropriate qualifications who have passed certification; industry enterprises, associations, etc.; breeding centers, scientific institutions.

1.9. Before grading, the commission carries out:

Checking animal identification numbers and, if necessary, restoring them;

Weighing animals and determining their fatness;

Taking measurements of animals of the corresponding sex and age groups;

Checking the reproductive ability of cows and bulls;

Summing up the evaluation of bulls based on their own productivity and the quality of their offspring;

Clarification of breeding records.

1.10. When grading, the commission: inspects the livestock, analyzes the indicators of its own productivity, the productivity of parents and descendants, fills out the appropriate accounting forms; evaluates livestock according to the main characteristics that characterize its productivity and breeding qualities; assigns the following complex classes based on basic characteristics: elite-record, elite, I class, II class.

1.11. Cattle that do not meet the minimum requirements for class determination are assessed as unclassified.

1.12. Cattle for which there is no necessary data to determine the complex class are classified as unassigned.

1.13. Based on the results of the valuation, a report is drawn up (form No. 7-myas) as of January 1 of the following year, which is submitted by the farm to the appropriate authority.

2. The main characteristics when determining the complex class of beef cattle.

complex class bulls There is

body weight, constitution and conformation, reproductive ability, self-assessment of productivity and genotype.

The main features when determining complex class of cows there is body weight, constitution and exterior, milk production, reproductive ability and genotype.

The main features when determining complex class of young animals there is body weight, constitution and exterior, assessment of one’s own productivity and genotype.

3.1. Determination of class by body weight.

3.1.1. Determination of the class by body weight of bulls and cows is carried out in accordance with the minimum requirements for the weight of bulls and cows of beef breeds to determine the class during grading (Table 102).

3.1.2. Determination of the class by body weight of young animals is carried out in accordance with the minimum requirements for the weight of young cattle of beef breeds to determine the class during grading (Table 103).

3.1.3. Sire bulls and cows up to 5 years of age, as well as young animals, are assessed according to the last weighing.

3.1.4. Animals older than 5 years are judged to have a higher body weight.

3.2. Determination of class by constitution and exterior

The class according to constitution and exterior is determined in accordance with:

Scales for assessing young animals based on a set of traits (Table 106).

3.3. Determining the class of cows based on milk production

The milk production of cows is assessed by the body weight of their offspring at the age of 210 days. When assessing the milk production of young cows, the actual weight of the offspring at the age of 210 days is increased: in primiparas- on 10%; by second calving- by 5%. When several calves are born, milk production is determined by the total weight of the offspring.

The milk production of cows with three calvings or older is assessed according to the calving data at which the calf with the highest body weight was obtained.

The class of cows in terms of milk production corresponds to the class of body weight of the offspring at the age of 210 days.

3.4. Determination of class by reproductive ability

The reproductive capacity of animals is assessed according to zootechnical records and veterinary medicine data.

Bulls are assessed by the number of standard sperm doses received per year or by the number of fertilized females during the mating season.

Cows are judged: firstborn- during the course of calving and older than the first calving; older cows- according to the course of calving and the duration of the mid-calving period.

Minimum requirements for the body weight of bulls and cows of beef breeds to determine the class for grading

breed	Class	Body weight of bulls, kg, aged				Body weight of cows, kg, age
		two years	three years	four years	five years and older	three years	four years	five years and older
Ukrainian meat	Elite-record
Volyn meat	Elite-record
Polesie meat	Elite-record
Southern meat	Elite-record
Znamenskaya, what is being created	Elite-record
Simmental meat, what is being created	Elite-record
gray Ukrainian	Elite-record
Sveta Aquitaine	Elite-record
Kian	Elite-record
	Elite-record
	Elite-record
Aberdeen Angus	Elite-record
Hereford	Elite-record

sign
Body weight, class:
elite-record
	on a 100-point scale
elite-record	90 or more
elite-record
elite-record	110.1 and above
Genotype, class:
elite-record
Including assessment of the quality of descendants (with an index 100 and more), class:
elite-record
breed:
purebred
IV generation
III generation
II generation
And generations
mother, class:
elite-record
father, class:
elite-record
elite-record	index 101.1 and above
Total, points

Scale for assessing cows based on a set of traits

sign
Milk content, class:
elite-record
Body weight, class:
elite-record
Constitution and exterior, class:	on a 100-point scale
elite-record	85 or more
Reproducible ability, class:
elite-record
Genotype, class:
elite-record
Including breed:
purebred
IV generation
III generation
II generation
And generations
mother, class:
elite-record
father, class:
elite-record
father's assessment by quality of offspring, class:
elite-record	index 101.1 and above
Total, points

Scale for assessing young animals based on a set of traits

sign
Body weight, class:
elite-record
Constitution and exterior, class:	on a 5-point scale
elite-record
Self-productivity rating, class:
elite-record	A-index 110.1 and higher
Genotype, class:
elite-record
Including breed:
purebred
IV generation
III generation
II generation
And generations
mother, class:
elite-record
father, class:
elite-record
father's assessment by quality of offspring, class:
elite-record	A-index 101.1 and higher
Total, points

The class for reproductive ability is determined in accordance with the requirements for the reproductive ability of bulls and cows (Table 107).

Requirements for the reproductive ability of bulls and cows

3.5.1. The genotype of animals is assessed by breed and origin (by a complex class of parents and an assessment of the father by the quality of the offspring). When evaluating bulls, they take into account their own assessment of the quality of their offspring.

3.5.2. The breed of animals is determined on the basis of documents of origin with a mandatory examination of the animals to determine their compliance with the breed type.

3.5.3. TO purebred include animals descended from parents of the same breed, and in the case of reproducible crossing (creation of breeds) - from breeding crosses of the 3rd and 4th generations “in themselves”, depending on the consolidation of characteristics and the severity of the desired type with a complex class not lower than the first.

3.5.4. TO crossbreeds include animals obtained from crossing different breeds, as well as dams of dairy breeds with purebred and local II-IV generations of meat bulls and from breeding crosses of I-III generations “in themselves”.

3.5.5. The degree of breeding of animals is determined according to the table. 108 and 109.

Breed, crossbreed	Breed, generations
two-breed crosses	I generation
AG, AD, BG, BD, VG, VD *
Second generation of two-breed crosses	II generation
AAG, BBG, VVG, AAD, BBG, VVG *
Three-breed crosses
ABG, ABD, BVG, BVD *
Chotiri crossbreeds ABCD, ABCD *
Second generation 3, 4, 5 - pedigree crosses	III generation
Third generation 3,4,5 - pedigree crosses	IV generation, purebred

Output breeds: A B C- meat; G, D- dairy.

Determination of the degree of breed of animals

mother's breed	father's breed
	II generation	III generation	IV generation	purebred
I generation	II generation	II generation	II generation	II generation
II generation	II generation	II generation	III generation	III generation
III generation	II generation	III generation	IV generation	IV generation
IV generation	III generation	IV generation	IV generation	purebred
purebred	III generation	IV generation	purebred	purebred

3.5.6. In the absence of documents on origin, provided that there is well-defined typicality and compliance with a set of class I characteristics, animals are classified as I or II generations.

4. Determination of the class of animals based on a set of characteristics

4.1. The class of bulls, cows and young animals according to a set of characteristics is determined by the sum of points received in accordance with:

Scales for assessing bulls based on a set of traits (Table 104)

Scales for assessing cows based on a set of traits (Table 105)

Scales for assessing young animals based on a set of traits (Table 106). Based on the sum of points received, animals are assigned to the following class:

81 points or more - “elite record”;

71-80 points - “elite”;

61-70 points - I class;

51-60 points - II grade.

4.2. The complex class of first-calf cows, the offspring of which did not reach 6 months of age during the assessment period, is determined according to a scale for assessing young animals according to a complex of traits (Table 106), while the body weight class is established in accordance with the minimum requirements for the weight of bulls and soft clear cows breeds to determine the class during grading (Table 102) for 3-year-old cows.

4.3. The complex class of a cow is increased by one if there are three daughters with the highest class.

5. Grouping of cows based on the results of grading and determining the production purpose of young animals

5.1. Based on the results of a comprehensive assessment of cows, the direction of their further use is determined and divided into the following groups:

Breeding core (the best part of the herd) - 50-60% of the total number of cows;

Breeding (included in the breeding core) - 18-20% of the total breeding stock;

Production - cows not included in the breeding core.

5.2. To repair the herd, young animals that have received: bulls- from cows of a breeding group; upskirt- from cows of the breeding core.

Based on the results of the assessment, animals intended for: repair of the herd are determined; sales for the purpose of use for the tribe; fattening and sale for meat.

Based on the results of the assessment, a report is drawn up (form No. 7-meat) and the situation is analyzed according to the following indicators: the number of cattle assessed and its distribution by breed and class; characteristics of the herd and individual cows of the breeding core with body weight, constitution and appearance, milk production, development of offspring; assess the age and body weight of the queens at first insemination and calving; results of assessing bulls and heifers based on their own productivity and assessing bulls based on the quality of their offspring; class of realized breeding young animals. They analyze the implementation of the selection and breeding work plan for the selection and evaluation of bulls for the quality of offspring, the selection of replacement bulls, and the creation of industrial lines. After such an analysis, they draw up a selection plan for the next year, a plan for replenishing the herd by raising replacement young stock and purchasing breeding stock; identify animals for entry in the State Book of Breeding Animals; develop plans for assessing: bulls and heifers - by their own productivity, bulls - by the quality of their offspring; draw up a plan for carrying out veterinary medicine activities.

In the practice of cattle breeding Animals are assessed according to their origin, individual qualities (growth, development, productivity) and the quality of their offspring.

Origin rating. It allows you to establish the hereditary qualities of animals. Heritability refers to the proportion of variation in a trait due to heredity. Heritability is expressed as a coefficient as a decimal fraction or as a percentage. An ancestry assessment is carried out based on the animal's pedigree.

Pedigrees can be recorded in several ways. As an example, the pedigree of the bull Motorny is given. The animal's ancestors are located in the corresponding rows of the pedigree, which are indicated by Roman numerals: Row I - parents (father and mother), Row II - grandparents, Row III - great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers, etc. In each row on the left, ancestors are recorded according to the female line, on the right - along the male line.

An assessment by origin is also carried out based on lateral ancestors - full brothers and sisters, half-brothers and half-sisters. During the assessment by origin, the breed and pedigree of the animal, its belonging to the line (family), the productivity of the ancestors, their positive and negative qualities, its possible breeding value and the further purpose of the animal are determined. In accordance with this, its cultivation is organized.

Assessment based on individual qualities. This is an assessment based on appearance, growth, development, productivity, etc.

Assessment by quality of offspring. The quality of the offspring is mainly assessed by sire bulls, comparing the daughters of a bull with their mothers, with their peers, with the breed standard, with the average for the herd and with the daughters of other bulls.

This assessment is carried out according to mass animal registration data or according to the results of testing on special control farms, where the same conditions are created for the offspring of all tested bulls. Assessment of the quality of the offspring allows us to more accurately judge the breeding value of the animal.

Dairy bulls are assessed by their milk yield and fat content in the milk of their daughters. Based on the assessment results, bulls are assigned one of three categories: A1, A2 and A3 for milk yield, B1, B2 and B3 for the fat content in the milk of daughters.

Bulls producing meat breeds are evaluated either by their own productivity (indicated by the “A” index) or by the quality of their offspring (by the “B” index). The assessment of offspring is carried out according to the following indicators: live weight at 15 months of age, average daily gain, feed costs per 1 kg of weight gain, intravital or post-mortem meat qualities. Based on the assessment results, the sire is assigned one of four classes: elite-record, elite, I, II.

Comprehensive assessment. A complete picture of the value of an animal can only be obtained from the results of its comprehensive assessment. In a comprehensive assessment of dairy cattle, the animal is assessed according to its appearance and constitution, milk productivity (milk yield, fat and protein content in milk), live weight, suitability for machine milking, origin, quality of offspring, etc.

To evaluate beef cattle, attention is paid to the development of the animal, live weight, appearance, milk production, feed gain, growth rate, slaughter quality, meat quality, origin and quality of offspring.

A comprehensive assessment of livestock, during which the breeding and productive value of animals is established, is called grading. Animals are graded taking into account the direction of their productivity, sex and age in accordance with the developed instructions. Depending on the results of a comprehensive assessment, animals are assigned a class: elite-record, elite, I or II.

from a worthy company, elite bouquets Moscow

Cattle Breeding Methods Cattle Breeding With the development of immunogenetics, attempts have been made to develop methods for assessing boars. Methods for assessing the hereditary qualities of boars and dams based on their offspring

Organization and features of appraisal

Cows on the farm are graded several times a year, and each animal is repeatedly assessed over the entire period of its life (young stock, determination of productivity, formation of the herd) until culling. The most important indicators used in grading:

• breed (origin, characteristics of parents);
• productivity (milk yield, fat content, protein level);
• exterior and constitution;
• reproductive characteristic.

The assessment plan will vary depending on the animal's age, management and gender. For each of the indicators, points are awarded, the sum of which is used to calculate the class affiliation of the cattle - this is the main breeding criterion when forming a herd.

The valuation is broken down by month - livestock specialists draw up a calendar plan in which groups of cows are formed for inspection, weighing, and determination of milk yield. According to the results of the study, cattle are divided depending on their further use:

• main herd (breeding core);
• replacement young stock (calves for restocking);
• young animals sold per breed;
• cull cows;
• group for further ranking.

When working, special attention is paid to animals to replenish the herd. These must be cows of at least 1st class. To replenish the livestock, the number of replacement heifers must be at least 25 per 100 heads of adult cattle annually.

Deadlines for livestock assessment:

• bulls and heifers selected to replenish the herd are assessed when they reach physiological maturity;
• marketable and fattening young animals from 10 months;
• adult cows during the dry period.

Breed Compliance Determination

A cattle breed is an artificially bred group of animals with similar productivity indicators, exterior and interior characteristics. Representatives of a certain breed can be the offspring obtained by the following crossing:

• from two representatives of the same breed;
• starting from the fourth generation with absorption crossing;
• when a new breed is approved;
• when crossing third generation descendants;
• from cattle of the same group (they receive the mother's line).

Breeding value is also expressed by characteristics other than pedigree. Dairy livestock with their indicators must satisfy the minimum requirements for the breed - a certain level of fat and protein content in milk, milk yield, weight, reproductive characteristics.

Productivity assessment

Belonging to a particular breed of cattle does not have much economic value without high productivity indicators. On farms, when grading and selecting livestock, the first role is played by the indicator of milk production or fatness. Not only the volume of production (total milk yield, meat yield) is assessed, but also its quality - fat and protein content, fatness, percentage of bones in meat.

Dairy cows

For grading, the average milk yield for the last three lactations is taken. For cattle with one calving or unknown indicators for past years, only data for the last 305 days of milking can be used. For the calculation, data from control milkings are used, which should be carried out on the farm at least once a month. In conditions of a small farm, as well as microchipping of livestock and automation of the process, control milkings are not carried out.

Parameters for assessing a dairy cow by milk productivity:

• total milk yield;
• milk yield for 305 days of lactation (with an increase in the service period, a reduction in dead wood);
• fat content;
• protein level;
• adaptability to machine milking.

Minimum requirements for cows of the 3rd or more lactation

Breed name	Annual milk yield, kg	Milk fat content, %	Protein content, %	Weight, kg
Ayrshire	3300	4,1	3,6	470
Dutch	3700	4,0	3,3	500
Jersey	2900	5,5	3,7	400
Kostromskaya	3500	3,7	3,4	510
Red steppe	3300	3,6	3,3	470
Simmental	3200	3,8	3,4	520
Kholmogorskaya	3300	3,6	3,3	480
Black and white	3700	3,5	3,3	500
Shvitskaya	3400	3,6	3,4	500

During grading, a cow is assigned points for each indicator. Based on their sum (in total, up to 60 points can be counted for milk productivity, the rest are obtained for constitution) the class of the animal will be calculated (from 3rd to elite record). The adaptability of cows to industrial housing is becoming increasingly important during selection. In this case, suitability for machine milking is assessed (rate of milk release, shape and condition of the udder, size and position of the teats), resistance to inflammatory processes, and condition of the limbs.

The basis for grading cattle is the assessment of its productivity - the amount and quality of milk yield, adaptability to machine milking, reproductive function.

In addition to the standard ones, dairy cattle are awarded additional points for indicators that exceed the average by a certain amount, as well as for the class of offspring. Thus, cows with a milk yield of more than 140% of the minimum breed level are assigned class A. If the offspring have daughters with an elite-record rating, then 5 points are added to the mother.

Beef cattle and exterior characteristics

Livestock assessment based on external data can be carried out from the 1st month. In this case, 5 categories are applied to the assessment of young animals (up to 24 months). An “excellent” rating is given to calves without pathological abnormalities (correct hoof placement, absence of deformation of joints, bones, spine). The chest must be well developed in width and depth. Young animals of dairy breeds should not have rough development or overdeveloped bones.

Evaluation of adult animals should take greater account of breed and performance predispositions. Thus, in dairy cows, the development of the udder and its suitability for machine milking are primarily noted. In addition, overall body condition should be below average, without large deposits of fat. The best time for grading is 2-3 months after calving.

Disadvantages and malformations of dairy cows

Index	Developmental defects
General condition (constitution)	Disproportional body type with weak muscles. The deviation is both overly tender development and rough development, characteristic of beef cattle.
Head and neck condition	A massive head on a short neck covered with thick folds.
Rib cage	Short, tapered with possible interception behind the shoulder blades.
Vertebral section	Curvature (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis) of the spine. Narrow lumbar region, double withers.
Abdomen	The abdomen is not tucked or underdeveloped. Muscle tone is not expressed, the hungry fossa is strongly sunken.
Pelvis	Narrow butt, short, dropped down. Bone tubercles stand out clearly.
Breast	“Goat” udder, uneven development of milk lobes. General underdevelopment of the gland, the anterior lobes are weakly attached. The nipples are short or, conversely, too long (should be in the range of 5-8 cm), located close.
Limbs	Incorrect positioning of the legs (curvature, hooves turned to the sides). Deformation of the hoof horn.

Bulls are evaluated for skeletal development and muscle mass, with particular attention to the loin and limbs. These should be massive animals with a rough constitution, a heavy head and neck. The skin is thick with good deposition of adipose tissue (except for the Belgian breed with an abnormality in protein metabolism). In the future, the sire's class can be increased due to the improved performance of his offspring.

The importance of valuation - the formation of a breeding herd

After assessing the entire livestock, the information received is analyzed. Animals with the best performance should be separated to form the nucleus of the farm. Breeding selection occurs continuously due to the natural loss of animals (disease, infertility) and the conclusion about the duration of use of livestock (age, number of calvings, changes in productivity indicators). To compensate for these processes, it is necessary to regularly (at least once a year) grade dairy cattle.

To form a herd, the following methods should be used:

• Ancestry assessment;
• manifestation of productivity;
• exterior characteristics;
• quality of offspring.

The study of the pedigree should include a study of the productivity of these animals, the presence of elite and elite-record class cattle in their offspring. To increase objectivity, it is necessary to study the productivity of sisters and brothers. The presence of an outstanding ancestor, especially close in the pedigree, increases the performance of the animal being studied.

Assessing the productivity of previous generations will allow you to better evaluate the cow and select the most valuable animals for the herd. Separating replacement cows and heifers based solely on exterior and milk characteristics does not guarantee their safety in the resulting offspring. In this case, a decrease in the quantity and quality of products in the coming generations is possible. Animals with unsatisfactory performance are used for sale or sent to feedlots.

V.A. Afanasyev, E.S. Romanov,

to practical classes on cattle grading

Moscow – 2000

Approved

Editorial and Publishing Council

University

V.A.Afanasyev, E.S.Romanov, A.A.Nikishov Methodological recommendations for practical classes on cattle assessment - M.: RUDN University Publishing House, 2001. - P. 39

The manual provides methodological instructions, formulates specific tasks and recommends appropriate forms of recording for each practical lesson.

Prepared at the Department of Animal Science.

_________________________

©Victor Aleksandrovich Afanasyev

© Evgeniy Sergeevich Romanov

© Alexander Alekseevich Nikishov

For III-IV year students

specialty "Animal science"

© Publishing house of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, 2001.

I. Valuation of dairy and dairy-meat cattle

Valuation is a comprehensive assessment of animals taking into account milk production (for cows), conformation, constitution, live weight and origin (genotype).

Purpose of the lesson

Study the principles of grading cattle of dairy and dairy-meat breeds of different sex and age groups, master the practical skills of grading animals directly on farms. Learn to conduct a comprehensive assessment of animals, establish grading classes, determine the purpose of animals for further use, and draw up grading reports.

The annual assessment of the herd is the main organizational event of breeding selection. Considering that grading is carried out not only in breeding farms, but also in commercial farms, as well as private farms, each specialist must master the practical skills of organizing and technical methods for assessing and selecting animals.

Selection is carried out through periodic culling of low-value individuals and annual grading. During the life of one generation, the animal is assessed and selected several times. Heifers are selected after the milking period, when assigned to mating or during the insemination period, cows - according to the data of the 1st and the average for a series of lactations. Bulls for breeding are selected from among those born from custom matings at 2-3 weeks of age to be sent to elevers (special farms for raising breeding bulls), then at one year of age according to their own productivity and reproductive qualities, and finally - according to the quality of the offspring. In doing so, follow the appropriate instructions. The complex of characteristics by which these breeds are graded includes: breed and origin, milk yield, fat and protein content in milk, milk production rate and adaptability to machine milking, exterior and constitutional indicators, live weight, quality of offspring, reproductive ability.

According to the scales given in the grading instructions, based on a 100-point assessment, cows are given points for the following three groups of characteristics:

For milk productivity, taking into account the fat content and protein content of milk, in relation to the requirements of class I for the breed, up to 60 points are given.

For the exterior, constitution, live weight of cows and milk production rate - up to 24 points.

For the genotype (indicators of breed, class of parents, father's assessment of the quality of the offspring - up to 16 points).

Cows are assessed by exterior and constitution by examining them in situ on a 10-point scale, in which the score for the udder can be 5 points. Therefore, such an assessment may be more objective if the cow is 2-4 months into lactation. During the same period, the milk production rate and live weight are determined.

A specialist, organizing the assessment of the herd for each calendar month, compiles lists of cows for which the appropriate date for assessing the exterior, weighing, as well as assessing the rate of milk production and the uniformity of udder development (the latter indicators are usually determined in the 1st lactation).

When assessing sire bulls based on a set of characteristics, based on a 100-point scale, the points are set as follows:

For exterior and live weight up to 30 points.

Up to 70 points for genotype.

Young animals are assessed on a 50 point scale:

Up to 30 points are awarded for genotype.

For exterior and typicality up to 10 points.

Up to 10 points for live weight.

Based on the total score, cows, bulls and young cattle are divided into the following classes: elite-record, elite,IAndIIClass.

In addition to the grading class, cows and bulls are assigned a category. If the milk yield and milk fat content of cows exceed the class I standard by 40% and 20%, respectively, the letters AB are added to the class assigned to the cow: A (for milk yield), B (for milk fat content). If the superiority is only in milk yield, add - A, if only in milk fat content - B.

Sire bulls are assigned a category for higher milk yields of their daughters, compared to the milk yield of their peers (A 1, A 2, A 3,) and for a higher fat content in the milk of their daughters compared to their peers (B 1, B 2, B 3 ,). A bull that improves milk yield and fat in daughters' milk is assigned the highest category A 1 B 1. With others, the assessment depending on the degree of prepotency, categories, respectively, can be with two bulls A 1 B 3, or A 3 B 2, or with one B 1, A 3, etc.

After assessing the animals according to a set of characteristics, taking into account individual characteristics, the purpose of each animal for further use is determined. This is one of the main tasks of valuation. In breeding farms, all livestock is divided into the following groups: leading breeding group (breeding core) production group; a group of replacement young stock, a group of young stock intended for sale to the breeding stock, a group of animals subject to ranking, a group of animals subject to culling from the herd.

In breeding farms, in order to obtain the bulls needed for their herd, in accordance with the selection plan and for raising bulls according to the orders of the breeding service authorities, within the leading breeding group from among the best cows of a certain linear affiliation, a special group of the breeding core is allocated - bull-producing in quantities exceeding the need in repair bulls by 2-3 times.

In non-breeding farms, the herd is also divided into groups: breeding core, production group, replacement young stock group, super-repair young stock group, group of adult cattle for culling.

Particular attention is paid to the formation of a breeding core in the herd. Young animals obtained from animals included in the breeding core are raised to replenish (repair) their own herd. In breeding farms, when recruiting the breeding core, the genealogical characteristics of the animals are also taken into account in order to ensure the reproduction of the factory lines provided for in the breeding work plan.

In addition to taking into account the qualitative characteristics of animals, the number of cows is also important when forming a breeding core. The number of cows may vary depending on the rate of reproduction of the herd. The numerical composition of the breeding stock is calculated taking into account the need for replacement heifers. Considering that the average sex ratio of young animals born (bulls and heifers) is 1:1, the number of breeding cows should be more than twice as high as the need for replacement heifers, if the farm produces less than 100 calves per year from 100 cows.

Bonting of cattle is necessary to obtain an objective assessment of the condition of cattle. It is carried out for each individual separately. A comprehensive assessment allows you to determine how appropriate it is to breed a particular breed. This procedure is carried out at least once a year. The entrepreneur can understand, based on the results obtained, which individuals should be used for further breeding and which can be sent for slaughter.

Large livestock farms carry out bonding every month so as not to interrupt the process of selling meat and high-quality young animals that fully meet the requirements for a particular breed.

Bonting of cattle is used to study a specific individual. Based on the study, it is possible to identify the exterior, productivity, constitution and origin. The work is carried out by a special bonding commission.

To complete the work, it is necessary to prepare all the necessary documentation for all animals. The document is submitted every year to the statistical authorities, which allows us to draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of livestock development in a particular region or in the country as a whole.

This is what is reflected in the bonus tables:

• breed and class composition of the individual;
• information about cattle by milk production and animal body weight for the last 305 days;
• assessment of the shape of the udder and the rate of milk release in dairy breeds;
• information about insemination;
• slaughter data;
• features of industrial use;
• characteristics of young animals that are sold and that are necessary for the repair of the herd;
• the result of using breeding individuals;
• data on the genealogical structure of the herd;
• characteristics of probotnitized individuals.

Important. All commission members must sign the document for it to have legal force.

Purpose of bonding

According to the order of the Ministry of Agriculture No. 402 dated October 19, 2006, bonding should be carried out to identify the best individuals in the herd in order to improve the breed. Summary reports must be sent to Rossat no later than October 1.

It is necessary to create a special commission, which should study all the documents and each individual separately. All data is compiled in the form of tables for each animal. The submitted documents must have the signature of the responsible persons. They are also certified by a seal.

Cattle grading: where to start

This process must be completed every year. Individuals who have not reached 6 months of age, castrated animals and a group of individuals put for fattening are not subject to bonding.

The initial stage is as follows:

• summing up the assessment of productivity (producers are assessed by the quality of young animals that have reached 6 months at the time of bonding);
• preparation of information on inventory numbers of cattle;
• determination of measurements;
• carrying out weighing before morning feeding;
• checking for pregnancy and the presence of pathologies in the reproductive system;
• clarification of breeding records.

Thus, it is necessary to prepare all the books that contain information about the animals being studied. You will also need to provide veterinary certificates confirming the availability of the required vaccinations and the health status of the livestock. Therefore, a veterinarian should always work on a livestock farm. Any changes in the animal's health must be recorded in the appropriate book. You can read below about what vaccinations are given to cattle and in what order they follow each other.

It is also necessary to provide the commission with information about feeding and maintenance and F-2 cards. In order not to have to do all the preparatory work for a long time, you need to fill out everything as you receive information.

Prices for Premix for calves

Premix for calves

Features of the assessment of cattle to determine their qualitative value

There is a special table according to which points are awarded to each individual. This information serves to understand how a particular animal should be used.

Table 1. Criteria for assessing workover

Physique with articles	How to get a perfect score	Number of points	Odds	Bottom line
Matching your breed	Body proportionality and compliance with the required direction	5	4	20
Matching your breed	Development of muscles and absence of roughness in the skeleton	5	2	10
Compliance with the exterior: head and cervical region	Development of the neck muscles and compliance of the head with the specific breed	5	1	5
Sternum	Roundness and development	5	2	10
Withers, dorsal and lumbar regions	Development of muscles and the presence of fleshy withers with a flat top line	5	3	15
Sacral part	Features of tail landing, rump width and length	5	3	15
Debarking part	Development of muscles up to the hock joints	5	2	10
Limbs	Features of setting and structure and shape of the hoof	5	3	15

Bonding – assessment of cattle productivity

Dairy animals are evaluated according to one algorithm, and meat animals according to another. They have different requirements, so it is impossible to use a single scale for assessment. Indicators are assessed by live weight. Requirements for young animals are reduced by 10%, and in the second pregnancy they are reduced by 5%.

It is worth noting that the milk productivity of individuals that have given birth to more than 3 calves is assessed by calving with the best indicators.

Meat breeds are rated according to conformation requirements. It is necessary to weigh the animal. The absolute value is the result of the highest body weight for the entire study period.

Reproduction estimates are given by veterinarians. So, it is necessary to carry out several tests, as a result of which the volume of sperm and the quality of the seminal bodies in it are determined. Based on the results obtained, a conclusion is made about the advisability of further use of these individuals.

Excellent indicators are given to those individuals that fully meet the requirements and have excellent performance indicators.

When assessing young animals, an additional special table of average daily weight gain at the age of 8 to 15 months is used.

Table 2. Estimation of average daily weight gain in young animals

To obtain objective information, it is necessary to weigh yourself every day and record the resulting data in a special book.

Features of productivity of meat breeds

The assessment is based on information about the percentage of pulp per kilogram of bone. Here is the classification in effect in the GOST-R requirements:

• 5 points – more than 55%;
• 4 points – from 53.1% to 55%;
• 3 points – from 50.1% to 53%;
• 2 points – from 49% to 50%.

The result of the control slaughter also affects the evaluation of the bull by the producer. Thus, the lower the score, the higher the likelihood that this bull will stop performing its functions and go to meat.

Bonding of dairy breeds

When working with dairy breeds, the following steps must be taken:

• calculate lactation for the last 3 milk yields;
• determine the amount of protein in milk;
• calculate the mass fraction of fat and compare it with representatives of animals of class 1;
• analyze adaptability to machine milking.

Prices for milking machines for cows

Cow milking machine

Thus, the assessment of productivity in this case occurs mainly based on the available documents.

Video - Boning of cows

Breed Compliance Determination

To determine the breed of a particular animal, documents are studied. There are purebred and crossbred breeds.

Purebred animals have parents of the same breed, which is documented. This may also include crossbreeds in the fourth generation, if they have a clearly defined breed type, and collectively they belong to the elite. Crossbred individuals are animals that have parents of different breeds up to the 4th generation. Typically, such crossings are used to improve the quality of livestock.

Purebred individuals are considered the most valuable. They must have all the necessary characteristics that are inherent in a particular breed. During crossbreeding, several individuals are usually used to study qualitative changes in characteristics.

Bonding classes for bulls, cows and young animals

After assessing each individual, an assessment is made, assigning a class to the animals:

• more than 81 points – elite record;
• 71-80 points – elite;
• 61 – 70 points – I class;
• 51 – 60 points – II grade;
• Less than 50 points are extracurricular.

Extracurricular animals are not used for further breeding. Most often, they are killed almost immediately, since they are of no practical value to the entrepreneur.

Each animal can receive up to 100 points. You can earn up to 60 points for performance. Experts assign up to 24 points for constitution, conformity to conformation, live weight and milk production rate. The remaining 16 points can be obtained for genotype.

Important. An animal cannot always belong to the same class, since it is constantly growing and developing. There is a peak form and a decay moment. Until peak form, continuous improvements in quality and quantity can be expected. After this they begin to fall. When exactly to write off an animal for meat is a question that an entrepreneur needs to decide.

Bonding as a practical method of animal selection

After receiving the results, entrepreneurs or specialists responsible for this begin to distribute the destination of the livestock. Usually it goes like this:

• 60% of the animals should become the main part of the herd. This includes the most promising individuals whose performance is considered the highest.
• 20% of the animals are left for further production. There should be only the best individuals who are able to pass on their genes to the young.

20% of livestock is sent for meat. These are the individuals that received the lowest score. It is worth noting that young animals that are not valuable for further breeding are also sent to slaughter. Thus, grading allows us to identify the best and worst animals on the farm.

The entrepreneur himself can decide when exactly to carry out bonding. However, it should be carried out at least once a year. Most often it is organized every month. This allows you to understand which animals will be used for meat and which will be used on the farm in the future.

Instead of a conclusion

Today, bonding is used in many countries. It is necessary for the continuous improvement of cattle performance. The entrepreneur himself is interested in conducting it, so he conducts it at least 10 times a year. All information must be submitted to Rosstat, since it creates a general picture of the state of the livestock industry in a particular region, federal district or in the country as a whole.

The cost of bonding depends on the specific region. Livestock farms that carry it out quite rarely show little production growth, since they do not have enough objective information about the condition of the herd.