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BIF Guidelines for Teat and Udder Scoring in Beef Cattle

Teat and Udder Scoring Subcommittee Members. Mark Allan, US Meat Animal Research CenterSusan Knights-Willmon, American Gelbvieh AssociationSean McGrath, McGrath Consulting. Udder Soundness. Convenience traitContributes directly to profitability of seedstock or commercial cow-calf operation. Udder Soundness.

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BIF Guidelines for Teat and Udder Scoring in Beef Cattle

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    1. BIF Guidelines for Teat and Udder Scoring in Beef Cattle Lauren Hyde Director of Performance Programs North American Limousin Foundation

    2. Teat and Udder Scoring Subcommittee Members Mark Allan, US Meat Animal Research Center Susan Knights-Willmon, American Gelbvieh Association Sean McGrath, McGrath Consulting

    3. Udder Soundness Convenience trait Contributes directly to profitability of seedstock or commercial cow-calf operation

    4. Udder Soundness Convenience trait Contributes directly to profitability of seedstock or commercial cow-calf operation One of the most important functional traits of a beef cow (e.g., Kirkpatrick, 2004)

    5. Teat and Udder Quality Calf performance Reduced milk flow Inability to nurse/receive colostrum

    6. Teat and Udder Quality Calf performance Reduced milk flow Inability to nurse/receive colostrum Cow productivity/longevity Injury and mastitis Deterioration of quality

    7. Teat and Udder Scoring Systems Seven out of 8 of the major US and Canadian beef breeds that have a scoring system record separate scores for teat size and udder suspension.

    8. Teat and Udder Scoring Systems Three different scales 0-50, 1-9 and 1-5 Low scores: large/pendulous High scores: small/tight

    9. Teat Size and Shape

    10. Udder Suspension

    11. Scales Sapp et al. (2003) analyzed teat scores measured on a 50-point scale as individual scores and as classes of 5 and 10 scores each.

    12. Scales 10- vs. 50-point scale Similar heritability (.21 vs. .22) .99 correlation between EPDs .93 correlation between systematic effects 5- vs. 50-point scale Lower heritability (.16 vs. .22) .93 correlation between EPDs .88 correlation between systematic effects

    13. Scales 10- vs. 50-point scale More robust when handling miscoded data May allow classifiers to better distinguish between and among classes and decrease the potential of misclassification May reduce the burden/cost of data collection

    14. Recommendations Separate scores for teat size and udder suspension 1-9 scale Require that scores be taken within 24 hours after calving Preferably by same person On weakest quarter

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