Livestock Evaluation Basics
What is Livestock Evaluation?
Judging how closely an animal matches the ideal for its species, breed and purpose.
Cattel are evaluated differently depending on whether they are
Market or breeding animals.
Name three things sheep can be produced for.
Meat, Wool, Milk
What are three products you can get from a goat?
What Are Swine Produced For?
Swine are primarily produced for pork, but producers also select animals for breeding stock.
The five major traits in livestock evaluation are
Structure, Muscle, Balance, Finish, and Capacity.
Round and loin.
What area of a market lamb is especially important when evaluating rear-end muscle?
Stifle
Why would udder quality matter to a sheep or goat producer?
Functional teats, correct placement, ability to provide milk to offspring.
What is a barrow?
A castrated male pig.
What is structure?
Ability to move correctly and remain functional.
What is the definition of maternal traits?
Characteristics that affect a female's ability to be a good mother, such as milk production, udder quality, mothering ability, and calving ease.
What fiber is sheep most commonly associated with?
Wool
Why does breed matter when evaluating goats?
Meat, Milk, or Hair/fiber
What is the difference between a sow and a gilt?
Sow is an adult female pig that has had a litter.
Gilt is a young female pig that has not yet had a litter.
What is Finish?
Fat cover/body condition.
Why is structure especially important in breeding cattle?
Longevity and reproduction
What is ewe?
What types of hair/fiber did we talk about from goats?
Mohair and cashmere
Name four areas where muscle is evaluated on a market hog.
Ham, loin, stifle, shoulder
What is capacity?
Body volume, depth, rib shape, room for growth/production.
What is reporductive soundness?
Ability to reporduce successfully
Name three body parts of a sheep.
Neck, Shoulder, Rib/side, Loin, Leg/Stifle, Flank
What fiber is associated with Angora-type goats?
What do we look for in structure and movement?
Correct feet and legs, sound pasterns, proper leg placement, and smooth, comfortable movement.