ASG 4992

Mid term – Spring 1998

100 points possible

General Information (45)

  1. Explain the importance of evaluating the meat animal species for fat, muscle, volume and structural soundness. (10)
  2. Discuss the effects that frame size has on fat deposition. Be sure to include both large and small framed animals. (5)
  3. Name four sites that can be used to evaluate for fat deposition. (2)
  4. Name four sites that can be used to evaluate for muscling. (2)
  5. Name two sites that can be used to evaluate for volume and capacity. (1)
  6. Briefly describe the desirable skeletal structure of livestock. (2)
  7. “EPD” is an acronym for what? Define the concept of EPD. (1)
  8. When an individual animal’s weight is said to be “adjusted”, what does this mean? (1)
  9. Define the following terms relative to what species they are used in, what they indicate and give the units for which they are measured in. (10)
    a.Birth Weight EPD:
    b.Weaning Weight EPD:
    c.Milk EPD:
    d.Number Born Alive EPD:
    e.Days to 230 EPD:
    f.Sow Productivity Index:
    g.60 Day Weight EPD:
    h.Grease Weight EPD:
    i.Pounds of Lamb Weaned EPD:
    j.Terminal Sire Index:
  10. Diagram the format in which reasons are presented. Include where grants, criticisms, advantages are discussed. (5)
  11. Name three disadvantages and three advantages to Continental breeds of cattle. (6)
  12. Name two black face and two white face breeds of sheep. Be sure to denote which is which. (4)
  13. Score the following placings. (3)
    Official:1-2-3-4 cuts of:5-3-2
    a.1-3-2-4:
    b.1-4-3-2:
    c.4-1-2-3:
    BONUS: 2 points extra credit 4-3-1-2

Scenarios: Read the following scenarios and data. Answer the following questions. (12)

POLLED HEREFORD BULLS (4)

NO. / ACT.
BW / ADJ.
WW / ADJ.
YW /

BW

EPD / WW
EPD / YW
EPD / MILK
EPD
1 / 92 / 660 / 1174 / 7.8 / 38.5 / 68.7 / -3.5
2 / 87 / 595 / 1065 / 1.0 / 24.1 / 41.9 / 4.0
3 / 93 / 733 / 1124 / 4.7 / 38.3 / 46.0 / 8.0
4 / 107 / 688 / 1359 / 10.4 / 37.9 / 75.5 / -0.7

Breed average EPD’s 3.533.0 43.0 5.0

The selected bull will be used on a set of mature Angus cows. Castrated male offspring will be retained and finished in a commercial feedlot. The heifer mates will be retained and returned to the mature black baldy cowherd. The nutritional program for the cowherd is considered above average, but limited labor is available at calving.

A.Which bull best fits the scenario given?______

B.Which bull offers the most post weaning growth?______

C.Which bull should create the least amount of dystocia?______

D.Which bull should produce the heaviest milking daughters?______

YORKSHIRE GILTS (4)

NO. / BF
EPD / DAYS
EPD / ACTUAL
BORN/WEAN / DAM’S
SPI
1 / .00 / -0.8 / 9/9 / 102
2 / -.02 / -2.8 / 11/9 / 105
3 / -.03 / -3.4 / 12/11 / 105
4 / -.01 / -1.2 / 11/10 / 99

Gilts will be mated to Hampshire boars. All offspring will be fed out and sold on a grade and yield basis. All hogs will be raised in confinement.

A.Which gilt best fits the scenario?

  1. Which gilt is least likely to make a positive impact on the marketability of the offspring on a grade and yield basis?
  2. Between 2 and 4, whose offspring should be the faster growing, leaner feeder pigs?
  3. What selection traits are of economic importance in this scenario (list all that apply)?

Suffolk Ewes (4)

NO. / DOB / 60 Day EPD / Milk
EPD / 120 Day EPD / % Lamb Crop EPD
1 / 1/13 / 1.2 / .4 / 2.6 / 2
2 / 1/16 / .6 / -1.0 / 1.6 / 1
3 / 2/15 / .3 / .6 / .6 / 3
4 / 2/17 / 1.4 / .5 / 3.3 / 8

Rank these ewes as replacements in a purebred flock which markets commercial rams to flocks that raise their own replacements and finish their own market lambs.

  1. Which ewe best fits the scenario?
  2. Which two ewes should have the lightest lambs at weaning?
  3. Which ewe should have the most desirable impact on lambing percentage?
  4. Assign a placing to this class.