For more information contact:
Jake Alden, Field Services Representative American Shorthorn Association
402-393-7200 office 402-660-9048 cell
The Shorthorn breed has long been noted as one of the breeds to make your cowherd more docile. This year, Shorthorn cattle placed on feed at the Great State Feedout (GSF) in Iowa had the opportunity to show the docile nature of Shorthorn cattle. The cattle were fed through the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF) program in Lewis, Iowa. Cattle fed through TCSCF are disposition scored every time they pass through the processing facility except for on arrival to the feedlot. The Shorthorn cattle scored very well having an average disposition score of 1.8 on 243 head of cattle. Disposition scores of 1 and 2 fall into the calm category and are considered ideal. TCSCF research on thousands of head of feedlot cattle from across the United States shows an average loss of $62/head for cattle with a disposition score of 3 or higher.
Disposition is a moderately heritable trait, so selection over time can improve your herd. Half of the trait comes from the sire and dam. The other part of the equation is that disposition can be influenced by previous management or environmental situations. The cattle in the GSF were scored using the six-point Beef Improvement Federation guidelines below.
Score 1 – Docile. Mild disposition. Gentle and easily handled. Stands and moves slowly during processing. Undisturbed, settled, somewhat dull. Does not pull on headgate when in chute. Exits chute calmly.
Score 2 - Restless. Quieter than average, but may be stubborn during processing. May try to back out of chute or pull back on headgate. Some flicking of tail. Exits chute promptly.
Score 3 - Nervous. Typical temperament is manageable, but nervous and impatient. A moderate amount of struggling, movement and tail flicking. Repeated pushing and pulling on headgate. Exits chute briskly.
Score 4 - Flighty (Wild). Jumpy and out of control, quivers and struggles violently. May bellow and froth at the mouth. Continuous tail flicking. Defecates and urinates during processing. Frantically runs fence line and may jump when penned individually. Exhibits long flight distance and exits chute wildly.
Score 5 - Aggressive. May be similar to Score 4, but with added aggressive behavior, fearfulness, extreme agitation, and continuous movement which may include jumping and bellowing while in chute
Score 6 - Very Aggressive. Extremely aggressive temperament. Thrashes about or attacks wildly when confined in small, tight places. Pronounced attack behavior.
Why should this be important to me? For many producers disposition is becoming more and more important when selecting genetics to add to their herd. In a recent BEEF Magazine Survey bull buyers were asked what trait was the most important when selecting a new bull. The most important trait for those cattlemen was disposition. With the average age of cattlemen increasing each year, it makes sense that disposition is becoming more of a convenience trait that is just as important as feet and legs or udder quality in their cowherds.
Obviously, calmer cattle are safer to handle and easier on your facilities at working time, but there are several other advantages for cow-calf producers or someone retaining ownership in the feedlot. In the feedlot calm cattle gain faster and offer more desirable carcasses. Wild or excitable cattle typically come into a feedlot lighter and weigh less when leaving compared to their calmer contemporaries. Docile cattle are also pulled less for sickness. For the cow-calf producer calmer cows have shown the ability to breed back faster both artificially and naturally.
I think the docility of the breed is definitely one of its best attributes and selling points. I have visited with many commercial producers who like their Shorthorn genetics because it made their cowherds easier to handle and safer for them at calving time. As fall goes into full swing don’t hesitate to cull those crazy ones before they start having a negative effect on your herd!
