Characterizing Foot and Leg Scores for Montana’s Registered Angus Cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize foot angle and claw set scores of Montana’s (USA) registered Angus cattle using a total of 4723 cattle scored: 1475 yearling bulls, 992 yearling heifers, 1044 2- and 3-year-old cows, and 1212 cows ≥ 4 years old. Yearling bulls had a 0.12 and 0.20 greater mean foot angle and claw set score, respectively, compared to yearling heifers (p p p p p p < 0.05), as well as variation of progeny foot scores. These data could potentially be used to refine expected progeny difference models.

Keywords

• beef cattle
• foot angle
• claw set
• longevity
• structural soundness