Beef Shorthorn classification removes need for visual assessment

Beef Shorthorn breed secretary Frank Milnes predicts the adoption of the Beef Shorthorn type classification scheme will give breeders the confidence to select bulls without seeing them.

More than 1,000 Beef Shorthorn animals have already been scored since the society launched the free and voluntary service last August, and three other beef societies are interesting in offering it to their members.

Mr Milnes believes the scheme will enable the beef industry to mirror the dairy industry’s selection techniques.

“[Buyers] will be able to make informed decisions about the bulls they want without seeing them,” he told Farmers Weekly at a classification workshop at Nell Farm, Hannington, Swindon.

“The dairy industry has been driven by AI and very few farmers ever see a bull. They make their decisions by looking at production figures and classification scores.”

The scheme, which uses the same scoring criteria as the dairy industry and is carried out by Holstein UK, scores animals on four areas – mammary, feet and legs, body conformation and beef character – to give each animal an overall score out of 100. The final score is attached to the animal’s name wherever is appears.

See also: New beef classification scheme launched

Mr Milnes says classification scoring is already having an immediate impact and this year at society sales prospective buyers have been able to choose bulls with excellent dams going back three generations.

“We are getting immediate results because people are getting their whole herd classified and Beef Shorthorns last a long time. Recent results show the best animals are getting the best results.

Meurig James

Meurig James, head classifier at Holstein UK, says the breed society is in discussions with three other beef breed societies that want to offer their members type classification too, although he said, at this early stage, he couldn’t confirm which ones they were.

“The classification tool isn’t only for the show ring. It is for everyone to use as a management tool.”

Mr James says cows with a classification score should also make a premium over those without one.

Benefits of classifying

Beef Shorthorn society director and pedigree breeder Charles Horton got his 100-cow Hannington pedigree herd linear-classified earlier this year.

“We did the autumn calvers in January and we did the spring calvers last week. All the cows are done, so now we just have to do the heifers each year,” says Mr Horton, who farms in partnership with his son, Edward.

“It makes you look more objectively at the cows because we are all sometimes a little blind to faults. Sometimes it points out things you may have overlooked or chosen to ignore.”

Mr James, who has been scoring the animals at the Hannington herd, says classification scoring has identified two weaker areas the herd can improve on: the power and strength of females and, in some cases, poor legs and feet.

As a result, this year Mr Horton is using the classification results in conjunction with EBVs to aid bull selection.

Bulls will be assessed for their dam’s line classification scores and only bulls bred from very good or excellent dams will make the final pick.

“It is another tool in the box and because it is quantified it acts as a good guide.” Mr Horton urged more members to get their own herds classified, adding: “I could see nothing to lose. Like all the schemes, it only works if enough people do it.”