Textbook of Field Practices in Bioresource Production, University of Tsukuba

Animal husbandry (3) Cattle weight – Body measurements

1. Meanings of weight and body measurements of livestock

1) Reasonable basic numerical values for calculating feeding levels
The nutritional requirements of livestock are normally calculated based on the nutrients necessary for
"maintenance," "growth," "production," and "pregnancy." The nutrients necessary for maintenance and growth
are determined based on weight. Therefore, without the knowledge of animal weight, you cannot determine
appropriate feed levels.
2) Health barometers of adult cattle
Regular (monthly) monitoring of these barometers allows early detection of abnormalities, such as
diseases, in adult cattle, as well as inappropriate feeding practice.
3) Healthy growth of breeding cows
The weights and body measurements of breeding cows are compared with standard values for growth
assessment.
4) Basis for the calculation of selling prices
The selling prices of livestock are mainly determined by weight. For livestock owners to obtain
appropriate profits, it is advantageous to know accurate weights at the time of shipment.

2. Body weight measuring methods

1) Body weight measurement
①Weighing using a cattle weight bridge
If a large scale that can weigh cattle is available, that is the most accurate method of weighing cattle.
However, if such equipment is not available, the following estimation methods can be used.
②Estimation by chest girth measurement
The correlation between weight and chest girth is quite high (0.965), so chest girth can be used to estimate
weight.
As an example, the National Institute of Animal Industry of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, and the Holstein Cattle Association of Japan, have developed the following formula based on the
measurements of about 1,000 animals:
0.36329
C＝1．28340 W (C＝aW b, where C is chest girth, W is weight and a and b are constants)
A measuring tape has been developed with which the weight of a milking cow can be estimated using the
formula. Differences from actual weights have been confirmed to be within 10% in most cases (60% or
more).
③Estimation using visible parameters
If someone has observed and weighed many cattle using a cattle weight bridge, he/she can estimate cattle
weights from body size, degree of fatness, etc.

3. Body measurement methods

1) Measuring instruments
Measuring sticks, calipers, and tapes, among other instruments, are used.

Atsushi Tajima,
AFRC, University of Tsukuba
1
 Textbook of Field Practices in Bioresource Production, University of Tsukuba

2) Measured parts
Body parts of a bull/cow have names (Fig. 1) but normally, for the assessment of a dairy cow, the body
part names shown in Fig. 2 are used.

Fig. 1. Body parts names of a bull/cow

1 Head 13 Neck 24 Thurl Fig. 2. Body measurement parts of a

bull/cow
2 Horn 14 Shoulder 25 Tail head
3 Forehead 15 Crops 26 Pine bone
AB: Withers height CD: Hip height
4 Ear 16 Withers 27 Tail
EF: Body length (horizontal length)
5 Eye 17 Back 28 Thigh GH: Body length (oblique length)
6 Muzzle 18 Loin 29 Tassel JK: Chest depth LH: Hip length
7 Cheek 19 Ribs 30 Hock XY: Chest width MN: Hip width
8 Chin 20 Milk vein 31 Pastern
OP: Thurl width QR: Ischium width
9 Throat 32 Hoof
W: Shin circumference
10 Dewlap 21 Hip 33 Udder
11 Prothorax 22 Pelvic arch 34 Teat
Belly girth is measured using a tape along
12 Fore shank 23 Rump the same line as chest depth.

3) Measurement methods and standard measurements

When a cow/bull is measured for body parts, the animal needs to be standing with the correct posture; its
dorsal line and cheek must make a straight line, and its four hooves must make a rectangle. A measuring stick is used
to measure withers height, hip height, thurl height, and body length, while and a width measuring device is used to
measure chest width, chest depth, hip width, thurl width, rump length, ischium width, and a tape is used to measure
belly girth and shin circumference.

4. Growth and physique standards of cows

Table 1 shows standard weights by monthly age for breeding Holstein cows in Japan.

Table 1. Growth (weight) standards for Holstein cows (kg)

Monthly age At birth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 24 30
Weight 40 56 73 90 113 136 160 184 207 229 251 272 292 331 367 400 496 564

Atsushi Tajima,
AFRC, University of Tsukuba
2