e Belgian Blue Breed
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The Belgian Blue Breed
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TheBelgianBluebreedrepresents50%ofthenationalherd,whichismadeupof�.083.408cows.
EXPANSION OF THE BREED
WhereasfullbloodBelgianBlueisusedinNorthernEuropeformeatproduction,itsextraor-dinaryqualityincrossbreedingprogramshasenhanceditsexpansioninthewholeworld.ThatiswhyweseeBelgianBluesinFrance,intheNetherlands,inGreatBritain,inIreland,inDen-mark,inUSA,inCanada,inBrazil,inAustralia,inNew-Zealand,inMexico...
Due its exceptional qualities in cross and fullbloodbreeding, therequestforbreedingstockisconstantlyincreasingworldwide.
TheBelgianBlueinAustralia
6�%oftheBelgianBluelivestockisintheWalloonregionand39%intheFlemishpartofBelgium.TheBelgianBlueherdisspreadalloverBelgium.However,itisintheProvincesofLuxemburg,HainautandWesternFlandersthatthenumberofBelgianBlueisthemostim-portant.
The breed is perfectly suited to a great diversity of soils and climates encountered in itsinternational expansion. Its very calm temperament and its docility are also very muchappreciated.
TheBelgianBlueinDenmark
D is trib u tio n o f th e B B h erd p er P ro v in ce4%
4%
11%
5%
15%
3%17%8%
20%
13%
A ntwerpLim bourg E as tern F landersF lam is h B rabant wes tern F landersW alloon B rabant HainautLiègeLux em bourgNam ur
EXPANSION OF THE BREED
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EXPANSION OF THE BREED EXPANSION OF THE BREED
Inordertoestablishinternationallytherecogni-tionoftheBelgianBluebreed,�6Herd-BookwerecreatedinEurope,America,AsiaandinAustralia.
These�6Herd-Books,membersoftheBBI,worktogetherinorderto:
• harmonize the methods and criteria of identifica-tionandregistrationofBBBinthedifferentHerd-Books;•keeptheregistersandregistrationpapersoftheanimalsexchangedorsold;•exchangeinformationregardingthebreedingofBelgianBlue;•favourtheexchangeofgenetics;•cooperateinthepromotionoftheBelgianBluebreed;•representinternationallytheinterestsoftheBel-gianBlue.
Internationalmeetings,breedingseminars,exchangeofjudges,carcasscompetitions...arenotablyorganizedwithintheframeworkofthiscollaboration.
Thankstothispromotion,theprecon-ceivedideasabouttheBelgianBluedisappearandthebreedexperiencesanalwaysgrowingsuccess.
CattleexhibitionattheHoustonshow(USA)
BelgianJudge:NationalTullamore(Ireland)
BelgianJudge:NationalIowa(USA)
BBStand,Regina(Canada)
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Butthewatershedoccurredbetween�960and�970.
Firstforbullsandlaterforcows,aclearpreferencewasgrantedtothemuscularde-velopment.Theresponsetothisselectionwasremarkable.Anewtypeofbreedappeared,combining significant muscle development (shoulders,withers,back,loin,andhindquarters), size, fine but solid bone structure, harmoniouscontourswithroundribs,in-clinedrump,hiddenhipsanddetachedtail.
In�973,thebreed,hithertocalled«racedeMoyenneetHauteBelgique»wasrenamedBELGIAN BLUE BREED dividedinto�distinctbranches:themeatytypeandthedualpurposetype.
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED
fromfairlyuniformlocalcattleandtheverypopularSorthornswidelyusedinthesecondpartofthe�9thcentury.
However,everythingwascalledintoquestionwhentheFirstWorldWarbrokeout.Itwasonlyin�9�9thatanAgriculturalCharterwasdevelopedintheformofaRoyalDecreewhichpavedthewayforfurtherbreeddevelopment.
Theselectionworkstartedupagain,butwithaclearobjective:arectangular«dualpurpose»breedofcattle,withagoodstat-ure,averagemusclestructureandgoodmilkproduction(4.000litresat3.5%).
�90�
This trend was firmly maintained until 1950.
Onehastogobacktothebeginningofthepastcenturytosee the first selection attemptstobreedadualpurposeanimal
�930
�965
Theyearsfrom�950to�960wereaperiodoftransition,duringwhichtheearlysignsofaneworientationbecameclearlyvisible.
�940
BeginningXXème century
�975
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED
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ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED
Certain breeders have continued to selectanimals for combined milk and meat pro-duction. This selection developed paral-lel to the meaty type’s one, by using com-pletely different blood lines. The «Bleue duNord» type belongs to the same group andis found in the Maubeuge region in France.
Withtheestablishmentin�999oftheagri-en-vironmentalmeasurementplanfortheprotec-tionofendangeredspecies,theinterestforthisdualpurpose branch hasbeengrowingandasof�005,moreorless�50breedersusethedualpurposeBelgianBluetypeinBelgium.TheyarelocatedintheProvincesofHainautandBrabant.Withinthedualpurposetype,�variants are identified according to the geno-type:
BelgianBlueBreed
DUALPURPOSEtype MEATYtype
genotypemh/+or+/+genotypemh/mh*
Theseanimalsaregeneticallyidenticaltothemeatytypeones.Howevertheirselec-tionisalsobasedonthemilkproductionandtheeasy-calving.Theirmilkproductionvariesbetween4�00and4800litres.
Theseanimalsofdairytypeproduceonaver-agefrom5400to6000litresofmilk.
Theselectionofdoublemuscledcattleresponsestotheeconomicclimateandinparticular,tothedemandofameatindustryverysensitivetothemuscleconformation,reflecting the composition of the carcass. The increased profit linked to well muscled cat-tlepushesthebreederstomatethemeatiestanimalstoeachother.
Fromanoriginallydualpurposebreed,theBelgian Blue has become a specific breed ofbeefcattle,withthefollowingtraitsandbenefits: extraordinary muscle development, desirablemeatquality(tenderness),stature,early maturity, feed efficiency, docility, uni-formityandmaternalaptitudes.
*mh:muscularhy-pertrophygene
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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED
STATURE
COATApartfromthe«pie»character(recessivevis-à-vis«allcolored»)presentinmostcoloredanimals,threecolortypesaretypicalforthebreed:allwhite,blue(pie-blue)andblack(pie-black).These3phenotypescorrespondtotheisolationofagenepairinheritedfromtheShorthorns.Theblue(equivalenttotheroaninShort-horns)istheintermediate,heterozygotephenotype.Amongthese3phenotypes,theblackoneistheleastpopularinBelgium.
ParentalCombinations CompositionofthedescendantsWhiteBlueBlack
WhiteXWhite �00%WhiteXBlue 50% 50%WhiteXBlack �00%BlueXBlue �5% 50% �5%BlueXBlack 50% 50%BlackXBlack �00%
Theweightofanadultbullrangesfrombetween�.�00and�.�50kg,foraheightatthewithersofabout�m45to�m50.Indeed,itisbynomeansraretoseeanimalsheavierthan�.300kg.
Theaverageweightofanadultcowatthebeginningofpregnancyis700-750kg,withaheightatwithersof�3�to�34cm.Cowscanreachaweightof850to900kgandcanexceed�40cm.
Ageinmonths �� �4 36 48 60Weight(kg)
�stcategory 500 770 970 ���� ��36Allcategories 484 75� 966 ����
Height(cm)�stcategory ��0.4 �34 �4�.� �45.8Allcategories ��0.� �34.8 �4�.7 �45
Weight and height of bulls measured at official events
HeightofbreedingcowsAgeinmonths �8 �4 36 48 60
Height(cm)femalespresentedatofficial events
��4.6 �30.4 �33.� �34.6
breed’saverage(linearscore)
��7.9 ��3.3 ��7.9 �30.4 �3�.4
Nevertheless,inScotlandforinstance,theblackBelgianBluebullsarepopularforcrossingonAnguscows.
cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED
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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED
DAILY GAINFEED EFFICIENCY
Thehigherrate ismostlydue toaproteinweightgainandweakfatgain.Thefeedconver-sionrateisinthe5kgrangefrom7to�3months.Givenitslowpropensitytodepositfats,the«meaty»animalscanberaisedand«fattened»onadietrichinenergywhichleadstohigherweightswithoutexcessfats.The traditionalformula is toproduce�8 to�9montholdbullsweighingaround650kg.
TheAverageDailyGain(ADG)ofbullsfrom7to�3monthsmeasuredattheBovineSelectionStation(bullscalvesin-tendedforbreeding)reaches�.6kg/day.Infattening,theADGofbullsrisesto�.�kg.
Thefeedconversionrate(kgoffeedbykggrowth)issys-tematically better with the Belgian Blue.This cattle con-sumes less and transforms more efficiently.
KILLING-OUT PERCENTAGE CARCASS COmPOSITION
TheaveragekillingoutpercentageoftheBelgianBlueanimalsreachesatleast70%.Withacarcassyieldof8�%ormore,theseanimalsprovide,forthesameliveweightof600kgforexample,�00kgmoremeatthananimalswitha60%killing-out.InBelgium,70%ofyoungcattlefall in theSandEcategories(of the European classification system), while in the other E.U. countries, themajoritybelongs to theU,RandOclasses.TheBelgian Blue breed produces a lot of meat while causing verylittlewaste.
In thehandsof skilledBelgianbutchersmuscles that typicallygive�nd grade cuts are reclassified as 1stgradecutswhichincreas-estheyieldofconsumer-prizedfast-cookingpiecesby35%.
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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED
mEAT QUALITY
TheBelgianBluebreedhasbeenselectedbythebreederstosatisfytheconsumer’sexpectations.Statisticsshowthat inBel-gium each person consumes on average�00kgmeatperyear,ofwhich�0kgofbovine meat. The Belgian Blue contrib-utes75%oftheredmeatproduction.
Thebreedisnotonlycharacterizedbythequantityofproducedmeatbutalsobyitsquality.
TheBelgianBluemeatisrecommendedbydoctorsanddieticians.Indeed,itcontainslesscho-lesterol(+/-45mg/�00g)thanskinlesschickenmeat(+/-6�mg/�00g).
MoreovertheBBmeatcontainsonaverage5%fat,thatistosay�to3timeslessthanthemeatproducedbyotherbreeds.Itslipidcompositionischaracterizedbyagoodfattyacidsbalance;fatofsuchqualityisnotunhealthy.
The meat is very tender because of the finer fibres and lower percentage of tough connective tissue.
BelgianBluemeatsrequireabout�/3lesscookingtimethanstandardbeef.
Belgian Blues offer consumers ex-actlywhattheywant:naturallylean,tender and tasty meat, producedwith respect for the animalwellbe-ingandthefoodsafety.
Itshighnutritionalvalueisdeterminedby4mainelements:themeatisrichinhighbiologicalqualityprotein,invitaminsB3andB��,inironandzinc,bothbeingonaneasilyassimilatedform.
cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED
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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED
ZOOTEChNICAL QUALITIES
•AGEAT�STCALvING:
Female Belgian Blues are precocious andreachpubertyearlierthanthefemalesofotherbeefbreeds.Theaverageageat�stcalvingis�9-30 months. However, in many herds, theheiferscalveat�4months.Theyare therefore fed intensivelyuntil theirfirst calving.
•GESTATIONANDTWINBIRTHS:
TheBelgianBlueBreedbelongstothegroupofbreedswithrelativelyshortgestationperi-ods.Forthemalefetus,itis�8�.6daysandforthefemalefetus,�8�.6days.
Frequencyoftwinsis�.3%onaverage.
•BIRTHWEIGHT:
Thebirthweightofmalecalvesisonaverage47kg.Femalecalvesweight44kgatbirth.
•CALvINGINTERvAL:
Theaverageintervalis�4months;for75%ofcows,itrangesfrombetween��and�5months.
•A.INON-RETURNRATE:
InBelgium,approximately50%ofthecowsare bred through artificial insemination. The nonreturnrateat58daysis69.7%
•CALvINGISSUES:
Atbirth,theyoung«meaty»typecalfcanbeworthtwiceifnotthreetimesasmuchasanordinarycalf.Thevalueofa«meaty»calfissuchthat thebreedercannolonger takeanyrisksandsystematicallyoptsforaneasycalv-ingbyCaesareanSection,whichisconsideredasatechnicalchoice,therebypreventinganytractionwhatlimitstheperinatalmortality.
ComparativetestscarriedoutinvariousEuro-peancountriesonFriesians,Hereford,Aber-deenAngus...haveshownthattheproportionofassistedcalvingismoreorlessidenticaltothatobservedforotherEuropeanbreedsofbeefcattle.(Limousine,Blonded’Aquitaine...).
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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS
InBelgium,selectionbasedontheanimal’sappearanceandconformationhasbeenpractisedformanyyearsandwithmuchsuccess.OurbreedershavethusdevelopedtheBrabançonandArdennesworkinghorses,thePietrainpig,theBelgianLandracepig,theBeltexsheepandofcoursetheBelgianBlueBeefcattle.Today,thegoalistokeepthesuperiormusclingwhichallowstheBelgianBluetodifferentiateitselffromotherbeefcattle,andthroughselectionmaintainingrusticity,size,posture,feetandlegs...
BelgianBluebreederscreatedtheBelgianBlueHerd-Book,whichisentrustedwiththeselec-tion,theregistryofpedigreesandthepromotionofthebreed.
InBelgium,thenumberofactiveBelgianBluebreedersisaround�.000.Thenumberofregis-teredcowsis90.000andthatofregisteredbulls�.500.Some33.500femalesand�.900malesareregisteredannuallyintheHerd-Book.
Paralleltothetraditionalselectionmethodswhichconsistsinchoosingthegoodmatingbasedon their pedigree and the classification at official competitions, a wide-range A.I. bull testing programhasbeensetup.
HERDS
REGISTRATIONSATBIRTH
Official inspections HBregistrations
Linearscoring�0-�8months
FARMSInspectionandHBregistra-
tion�0-�4monthsLinearscoring�5-56months
A.I.
PROGENYTEST
450M
PERFORMANCETESTSTATION
(�50Msuccessful)
M+F64.000
M�.000
F34.000
F35.000
F=femalesM=males
SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS
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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS
PERFORmANCE -TEST
SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS
Bullsfromtheperformance-testaretheresultofpreferen-tialmatingsbetweenA.I.orprivatebullslabelledas«bullfathers»andspecially-chosencows,mostnotablythroughtheir linear classification, and labelled as «bull mothers».
PROGENY -TEST
TheProgeny-TestinvolvestheoffspringofallA.I.sires.Results(geneticevaluations)fromthesefarm-basedprogenytestsarepublished biannually.At the farm the controls start at calving (�stvisit),andthecalvesarereexaminedat�4monthsofage(�ndvisit).The collected data reflects the following zootechnical and functional traits:
AverageperformancesattheStation.
Weight Height DailyGain
FeedEf-ficiency
value(€ /kg)
AuctionCateg. 544.55 ��0.5 �.558 4.966 3.00Admitted
returninfarms 5�5.3 ��9 �.547 5.��5 �.90
Refused 53�.7 ��9 �.56� 4.886 3.00
–�stvisit(birth):gestationlength,birthweight,conformation,possiblelegsandmouthdefects,vitality,deathrate...
–�ndvisit(�4months):weight,height,combinedindexweight-conformation,possiblelegsandmouthdefects,deathrate.
At the age of 13 months, a severe selection takes place since only 50 % of the potential candidates are accepted for public auction where breeders and A.I. stations may bid for the bulls.
Ifthesemalecalvesmeetthesanitaryrequirements,theyareallowedintotheTest-Stationwheretheyareraisedinidenticalconditionsuntiltheageof�3months.
Theyoungbullsaresubjectedtodailygain,feedconsumptionandspermatogenesisevaluations.
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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS
LINEAR SCORE
AspecialsystemoflinearscoringhasbeendevelopedbytheBelgianBlueHerd-Bookforthebreed.Thisevaluationissystematicfor all the registered cows from �5 to 56monthsofage.
The linear classification involves numeri-callyscoringofeachanimalastoitsmor-phologybasedon��traits:4forthesizeoftheanimal,9 for themuscledevelopmentand9forthebonestructureandposture.
Thelinearscoreallowsfor: •aperiodicinventoryofthemorphologicalcharacteristicsoftheherd,whetherthis concerns a specific herd or the breed as a whole; •thechoiceofbulls-mothers,withthepurposetoentermalecalvesintotheBovine Selectionstation; •theselectionoffutureembryodonorcows; • an highly specific genetic evaluation of the A.I. bulls.
Moreover,possiblelegsdefectsaretakeninaccount:deviationrear-orforelegs,fetlockrear-orforelegs,saggedknee,puffyhocks.
THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING
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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING
Theterminalcrossbreeding(crossbredanimalsintendedforthemeatproductionandnotforbreeding)ismoreandmorepopularinmanyregionsoftheworld.TheintroductionoftheEu-ropean classification system «SEUROP» is seen to be at the origin of this enthusiasm. Givenitseconomicalandmeatqualities,theBBisoftenchosenasterminalsire.Inmanycountries,trialsofcrossingbetweentheBelgianBluesireandlocalbreedcowswerecarriedout.Asageneralrule,theyrevealthesuperiorityoftheBBcrossbredcalfresultinginincreased growth, feed efficiency and above all muscle conformation.
ABelgianBluecrossonaHolsteintypedairycow, offers a marked improvement in kill-ingout(+4to5%)andincarcassmeatyield(+8%). This benefit is not accompanied by any more calvingproblem than foundwithmostotherbeefbreeds.
InaseriesoftestsperformedoncrossbredsbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture’sClayCenter(MARC)involvingthemostpopularbeefbreeds(AngusandHereford),theBel-gianBluecrossbredcarcassyieldsurpassedthecontrolsubjects[(AngusXHereford)X(AngusXHereford)]by�.7%,percentageofleanby6.7%andfatcontentlowerby7.4%.Alltold,theBelgianBluecrossesyielded3�.�kgmoremeatand�5.�kglessfat,onaverage,thanAngusXHereford.
Moreover, the survival rate, the daily gain and the feed efficiency are also better for the Belgian Blue crossbreds. Their great carcass quality justifies a better price on the market (the average added value per calf reaches 200€).
Inaddition,thewhitecolouredBelgianBluebull«marks»itsoffspring,withthesebeingen-tirely“blue”onHolsteincows.
[BBXHolsteinFrisian]inGreatBritain
[BBX(XSimmental)]inCzechRepublic
[BBXAngus]inCanada
[BBXSouthDevon]inUSA
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BreedingadairyorabeefcowtoaBelgianBlueproducesaBelgianBluecrossbredsig-nificantly better than the maternal breed: better carcassyield,leanermeat,lessfat,betterfeedconversionrate...
TheBBisalsomuchappreciatedtomellowthenervouscharacterofcertainlocalbreeds.
Taste-testinghasshownthatforsteakthereap-pearstobenoracialdifferencewithrespectto«juiciness», flavour and tenderness. In roasts, however, the Belgian Blue was more tenderthanallotherbreeds.
InBrazilandArgentina,theBBBisusedonalargescaletotenderizetheZebumeat.
THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING
[BBXJersey]inGreatBritain
[BBXZebuNelore]inBrazil
BBBXRDM RDM Diff BBBX
HOL HOL Diff BBBXJER JER Diff
Age,months. �4.4 �4.� 0.3 �4.4 �4.0 0.4 �4.3 �4.9 -0.6Carcass,kg. �83 �5� 3� �88 �44 44 �48 �89 59Score,carcassquality,EUROP 8.� 4.7 3.5 8.4 3.9 4.5 6.8 3.� 3.7
ADG,g/day 594 54� 5� 608 5�6 8� 5�4 384 �40
Someresults: •Denmark:Slaughtering,carcassqualityandADGresultsofbullsfromvariouscrossings:BBXDanishRed(RDM),BBXHolsteinandBBXJersey.Slaughteringcarriedoutbetween�999and�003.
•Italia:Fatteningresultsofcrossbredmalecalves,slaughteredattheageof4months.
HolsteinXBB HolsteinXLimousin HolsteinXItalianSimmental
FinalWeight(kg) ��0.80 ��8.�9 ��9.8�ADG(g/day) 848 774 8��Feedgainratio(g.D.M.food/gADG) �967 ���� �00�
THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSSING
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THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSSING
[BBXBl.Aquitaine] [BBXLimousin]
[BBXCharolais] [BBXMontbeliard]
[BBXNormand] [BBXRedHolstein]
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STANDARD FEATURES
hEADFine-featured, well proportioned, fairly wide, flat forehead, large muffle. The head is bigger, shorterandmoremassiveinthemale.Short,horizontalhorns,atthesideinthebull,curvedforwardsfromtheforeheadinthecow.Defects: fairly unrefined, long and tapering head.
NECKThickandhorizontalinthecow;convexandroundedinthebull.
ShOULDERWellmuscled,inproportiontothesurroundingareas.Themusclestructureoftheshoulder,leg,forelegandthescapula-humeralangleareparticularlywell-developedinthebull.Defects: protruding and detached shoulders, insufficient muscle structure.
wIThERSWideandmusclularwithers,inastraightlinewiththeneckandwiththeback,atleastinthecow.Defects: narrow, insufficiently muscular withers, not properly attached to the back.
bACK AND LUmbAR REGION (KIDNEYS)Horizontal,wideandmuscular,convexridgeinthemiddleofthebackwhichcancontinuetothehindquarters(doublekidneys).Defects: saddle-back, insufficient muscle structure, kidney not properly attached, protruding backbone.
ChESTRoundedribs,thickmusclecovertotherearoftheshoulder,especiallyinthemale.Wideandmuscularchestaboveallinthebull.Thinandpliableskin,fetlocknotverydeveloped.Defects: flat, long rib, narrow chest, thick skin.
FLANKShortandfull,thefoldofthegroincontinuestowardsthefront;resultinginaverythick«extrafoldofskin»(corde).Defects:long,hollow,saggingabdominalwall.
CROUP (RUmP)Widewithdisappearinghips,long,inclined,highlydevelopedmusclestructure(double),espe-ciallyinthemale,themedianhollowbeingoccupiedbythesacrumwhichinturnisprolongedbythetail,whichisprominentlyset.Defects: too short, narrow, insufficiently muscular and inclined rump, embedded tail set.
STANDARD FEATURES
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STANDARD FEATURES STANDARD FEATURES
bUTTOCKS AND ThIGhS 1
Rounded and convex with apparent intermuscular fissures; in profile: startingoutattheischialpoint,thethighsprolongtherumptotherearinacirculararcandoverhangthehocksanditstendon;inthemale,lookedatfrontonfrombehind,thecontourfromthetopofthecroupandthebottomofthebuttockstendstohaveanarchingline.Defects: insufficient muscle structure, buttocks too short.
TAILDevelopmentinrelationwiththebonestructure,averagelength,fallsperpendicularly.Defects:tailtooshort,embeddedtailset.
bONE STRUCTURE AND STANDSSolid and fairly delicate bone structure, dry and flexible joints, healthy and tough hooves. Defects: unrefined bone structure, stiff joints which may have thickened and can even be swol-len. forelegs: • In profile, forearm, knee and cannon form a straight column. Defects:forelegstoofarforward,forelegstoofarbackward,archedknee. •Frontview,forearmandcannonformanopenanglewiththekneeatthetop. Defects:forelegsturned-infeet(openknee),forelegsturned-outfeet(knock-knee)
rearlegs: • In profile, a lowered perpendicular line from the ischial point to the top of the hock. Defects:angleofthehockstooopen(straighthocks),angleofthehockstooclosed (benthocks). •Seenfrombehind,hindlegsinparallelwiththecentreofthebody. Defects:turned-infeet(open),turned-outfeet(cow-hocked).
Pasterns: Continuesupfromthehooves,fromthecrowntotheankle;thepasternisnaturally straighterinthehindleg. Defects: pasterns too short (insufficiently inclined), too long (excessively inclined pasterns).
UDDERSquare,symmetrical,averagelywelldeveloped,wellplacedteats.Defects:droopingudder,bottle-shapedudder(goat’sudder),titssettoocloselytogether.
TESTICLESNormalsize.Defects:toosmall,swollen,absent(cryptorchidy).
1. Buttocks : region from the ischial point to the tendon which is attached to the hocks.Thigh : in relation with the femur; is limited to the front by the flank, and to the rear by the buttocks.
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