Muscle Scoring of Cattle

Download a pdf from here http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/beef/appraisal/publications/muscle-scoring-beef-cattle

The value of muscling and yield – downlad pdf from http://www.beefcrc.com.au/Assets/142/1/Muscling_and_yield.pdf

Buy  and download a video from the NSW DPI on muscle scoring at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/resources/bookshop/how-to-muscle-score-beef

The video ‘How to muscle score beef cattle’ runs for 23 minutes and was produced in 1993. The video covers the following areas:

• There are five different muscle scores: the highest score (A) represents the most muscled animal; the lowest score (E) represents the least muscled animal.
• The same muscle scoring principles are applied to female cattle, steers and bulls.
• The skill of muscle scoring is explained.
• Muscling is an economically important characteristic.
• Muscling can be improved by breeding, with consideration to growth rate, fertility, calving etc.

Useful Contacts

Herefords Australia Limited 

16 Uralla Road – Locked Bag 7 ARMIDALE NSW 2350
Phone +61 2 6772 1399
Fax +61 2 6772 1615
Email info@herefordsaustralia.com.au

Your State DPI:
Qld:

• Phone: 13 25 23 (cost of a local call within Queensland) or +61 7 3404 6999
• 8 am to 6 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
• 9 am to 6 pm Thursday
• Email: callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au
• Fax: +61 7 3404 6900

NSW:

• Phone 1800 808 095
• Email: nsw.agriculture@dpi.nsw.gov.au
• Post  DPI, Locked Bag 21, Orange NSW 2800

Vic:

• Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia
• Customer Service Centre: Phone: 136 186, TTY: 1800 122 969

Tas:

• Phone: 136 186
• TTY: 1800 122 969
• Email: customer.service@dpi.vic.gov.au

SA:

• Phone: 8226 0222     Animal Health Phone: 8207 7900
• NLIS Freecall: 1800 654 688

WA:   

• Phone: +61 8 9368 3333
• Fax: +61 8 9474 2405
• Email: enquiries@agric.wa.gov.au

Seasonal Reminder for Good Cattle Health

Drenching

Summer

• Vaccinate all calves about 6-8 weeks – a multiple vaccination maybe given – e.g. “5 in 1”
• Give a second vaccination 4-6 weeks later
• Drench during the hot weather to reduce roundworm during the year.

Autumn

• Drench in April on properties where roundworm is a problem, especially 2 year old heifers and first time calvers.
• Drench in April for Liver Fluke in areas where it is a problem.
• Drench for Lice, which build up in cooler months.
• You can now get all in one pour-on drenches that do lice and worms.

Make sure there is enough feed for pregnant fat cows. Toxaemia may develop if feed is scarce!

Winter

• Drench for worms now to prevent a build up in spring.
• Watch for milk fever
• Watch for Grass Tetany- use of magnesium block licks, capsules, oil, hay treated with

Definition of Hereford Cattle

 From….. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford_(cattle)

•  Hereford cattle are a widely used breed in temperate areas, mainly for beef production.
• Originally from Herefordshire, England, they are found in the temperate parts of Australia.
• The breed also enjoys great popularity among ranchers in the desert American Southwest of the United States, as well as in the centre and east of Argentina and in Uruguay.
• Herefords made up the largest percentage of registered cows among herders in New Zealand.
• This is a testament to the hardiness of the breed; while originating in cool, moist Britain, they have thrived in much harsher climates.
• The breed has adapted to a wide range of climates on nearly every continent.
• Hornless variants with the polled gene are known as the Polled Herefords.
• Breeding horned and hornless together functions as a genetic dehorner.
• This is often used as an alternative to a dehorning process, which causes stress and often weight loss.
• Closely related to the Miniature Hereford, the breed is known for its high-quality meat and its excellent maternal qualities.
• The Hereford’s temperament is more docile, allowing easier handling than other cattle breeds.
• Its meat quality is very good, in some strains rivaling that of Angus, another “British Breed”, known for ‘marbling’ (intramuscular fat).
• The World Hereford Council is based in the United Kingdom; the Secretary General, Mrs. Jan Wills, is from New Zealand.
• There are currently 19 member countries with 20 Hereford societies and 7 non-member countries with a total of eight societies.

HAL Inventory

Don’t forget that the HAL inventory for female cattle is due before April. You should have received your notification by now. If you have not received anything from HAL, please contact them directly.

Herefords Australia Limited 

16 Uralla Road -

Locked Bag 7

ARMIDALE NSW 2350

Phone +61 2 6772 1399

Fax +61 2 6772 1615

Email info@herefordsaustralia.com.au