Classification

 

Beef Cattle in Denmark are classified at national level by Danish Cattle Federation. The same guidelines are used for all 16 beef breeds, which are registered and entered in the herdbook by Daniash Cattle Federation at the moment. No classification is carried out at local level.

 

In Denmark beef cattle is classified using the linear scoring system. 19 traits are scored using a linear scale from 1-9. Futhermore it is possible to apply codes for disorders in case a special deviation cannot be described by means of the linear scale. There are 49 different codes describing disorders (+ 11 especially for Highland Cattle).

 

The score/description is objective, linear and independant of lactation number and time in lactation. The 19 traits and the codes for disorders, if any, are then combined using a hand held terminal into 3 composite traits; BODY, MUSCULARITY and FEET & LEGS, which are combined into an overall type trait, called TYPE. These 4 figures are corrected for condition, interval from calving, calving age (first calving), calving number and as regards bulls also for condition, age and the optimum fixed for each induvifual trait of each breed. The resulting type are published using a scale from 60 - 99 with an average of 80 and a standard deviation of 5. The different traits and optimums for Highland Cattle are showns in the table underneath.

 

TRAIT	Optimum for bulls	Optimum for cows	Average for the breed
BODY
1 Width of fore end (front view)	6	5	5,6
2 Depth of chest	7	7	6,5
3 Top line	5	5	4,6
4 Size	7	6	5,8
5 General appearance	9	9	6,9
MUSCULARITY
6 Chine, width	8	7	6,0
7 Loin, width	9	9	7,0
8 Rump angle	5	5	5,3
9 Length of rump	9	9	7,0
10 Width of rump	8	8	7,0
11 Width of thighs	8	8	6,5
12 Inside of thighs	8	8	6,9
13 Depth of thighs	9	9	7,1
14 Muscularity of thighs (side view)	8	8	6,5
FEET & LEGS
15 Rear legs (side view)	5	5	5,3
16 Angle of pastern (side view)	5	5	4,0
17 Rear legs (rear view)	8	8	7,1
18 Forelegs (front view)	8	8	7,2
19 Bone quality	5	5	4,5