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Miniford®
Miniature Hereford - frame score measuring
 Measurement
of your miniatures can be taken straight across the hipbones.
The hip height can vary an inch or so depending on whether
the animal is standing correctly on its back legs or keeps
its back straight (not sagging or humped up).
For the past few years, here at the Point of
Rocks Ranchjustify, we have taken both the hip and shoulder height
of our Miniature Herefords. The hip height is definitely the
more accurate of the two measurements. This is reinforced
by the fact that the standard sized cattle go by the hip measurement.
Also the shoulder height can increase after 3 years of age,
where the hip height will usually stabilise at that age.
 There
are several instruments made for measuring cattle height.
They are usually made of metal with a sliding tube inside
a larger tube and a level mounted on a horizontal arm at the
top. Another type resembles a regular tape measure with a
level attached to a bar for placing on the animal's back.
An inexpensive homemade measuring stick can be made from PVC
pipe. We use a reamed out T to slide up and down a pipe with
a horizontal piece glued to the leg of the T. This is then
placed over the back of the animal. Make permanent marks on
the pipe for a quicker reading.
When using the frame height charts to predict
the future height of a calf it must be remembered that many
factors influence the growth rate. The primary factor is genetics.
Some calves grow quickly when they are young then taper off
at eighteen months, maturing an inch or so shorter than expected.
Other calves grow slowly and continue to grow after they are
two, maturing out an inch or so bigger than you expected.
Another factor that changes the growth rate
is nutrition. Of course, if a calf does not receive proper
nutrition it can become stunted, therefore having a deceptive
reading when you use the chart to estimate the mature height.
On the other hand a mature cow can measure a couple of inches
taller than her actual frame score if she is excessively fat.
Six months of age is the earliest you should
begin measuring your calves. By the time they are twelve months
old you can get a better projection of their mature height.
It's pretty standard knowledge in the cattle
industry that if you wait until a heifer is three years old
before she has her first calf, then she will grow a little
bigger than a heifer that has calved at two years old.
Frame score
The Miniature Hereford Australian and New Zealand
Association will not register an animal larger than a frame
2 as a Miniature Hereford. The average size of Miniature Herefords
available at the moment is between 104 and 114 cms (41"
and 45")
Follow this link: Frequently
asked questions »
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