Movement and Soundness 101....

Movement and soundness in females is and should always be a hot topic in whatever segment of the beef industry you are in, especially the show ring.  However, trying to learn what makes an individual "sound" in their movement can be frustrating to those who aren't exactly sure what they are looking for.

I'm attaching a link to an Angus heifer I video'd last week.  She is as close to PERFECTLY SOUND as any I've seen in a while.  Watch her head and spine as she moves.....it is completely relaxed and comfortable.  Her front feet are pawing the ground like a leopard, and her rear feet are stepping right in the hoof print of the front feet every time.  But her head is the key....any time they "talk with their head" like that.....their joints are ALL in sync with each other.

Just thought somebody might like to see what cattle are supposed to move like.

http://www.youtube.com/user/holmesshowcattle?feature=mhum#p/u/10/1D803HRi0kw

Nice heifer.  Can you get a few videos of some with soundness issues?

GoWyo said:

Nice heifer.  Can you get a few videos of some with soundness issues?

Click to expand...

That would be a great idea.  I could use those in class.  It is hard, in todays educational world, to convince the admin. the importance of witnessing these type of things, instead of just talking about it.  (no field trips allowed this year)  Only problem......  youtube is a big NO NO at school. 

Thanks jbh.  good stuff, but I will have to wait to get home to see it on the PC instead of my phone.  LOL 

Thanks, jbh. It really helps to visually see what they're suppose to be doing on the move. Great lesson and an amazing looking heifer IMO.

.

We say that "she walks like a cat"  in our part of the world.  You just have to look at the video of the steer that Telos posted to see a difference in walking. Beautiful set of females.

Brad, could you explain what you mean by "talks with their head?"  As I understand it, a calf's back should remain in a natural position while on the move.  But should the head move slightly up in down, or should it remain vertically still?  Thanks.

THANK YOU!  Very good example of flawless structure.  Sign me up for a potload just like her, I love it.

SWMO said:

We say that "she walks like a cat"  in our part of the world.  You just have to look at the video of the steer that Telos posted to see a difference in walking. Beautiful set of females.

Click to expand...

Even though there is a difference in the way they both move, there probably is much better examples to compare. That Foreman steer, although maybe not ideal, is not that bad on the move. He's just a different type with more muscle volume on a heavier structure. He certainly could be worse (shorter strided  and much more choppy) in that aspect. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

No Telos that steer is not a prime example of an animal that moves poorly.  I knew I would catch h*** when I made that comparison.  I would love to have bred some steers like him myself.  However I do think that he labors a bit off one hind leg and doesn't stride out as well I would like to see of his front end.  It will be interesting to see how the steer continues to develop.  If it is possible to follow him.

STEER_1981 said:

Brad, could you explain what you mean by "talks with their head?"  As I understand it, a calf's back should remain in a natural position while on the move.  But should the head move slightly up in down, or should it remain vertically still?  Thanks.

Click to expand...

  Brad was saying that the head should bob up and down a bit.

SWMO said:

No Telos that steer is not a prime example of an animal that moves poorly.  I knew I would catch h*** when I made that comparison.  I would love to have bred some steers like him myself.  However I do think that he labors a bit off one hind leg and doesn't stride out as well I would like to see of his front end.  It will be interesting to see how the steer continues to develop.  If it is possible to follow him.

Click to expand...

Further inspection... I'll have to agree. Thinking Im getting jaded when I see so many champions of his type. Also think it will be interesting to see as a fat.

Brad visually presented us with a great example of sound structure. It gave us something to look for and be conscious of when observing them on the move. He took us beyond just covering their tracks.

Enjoyed the post. I agree that soundness and movement are often overlooked when actually they should be forefront in selection. This heifer is as good as you could ask in that department.

As a whole, that set of heifers @ Holmes are as sound of a set as you will find IMO.

What are PPL's opinion of the Felony heifer? Have any Steer Planet members used Felony?

CAB - are you talking the Felony bull that is out of the Charolais bull Kojack and sister to Yellow Jacket?  We have used him on 2 commercial limmie x angus cows.  The steer is a solid county fair steer, better cow would have made better calf, but he is sound and stout.  Heifer will be a good commercial cow, but won't be anything fancy.  Did not see much out of him this year and did not have a chance to use him last spring, but would use again.  Disposition is really good on these calves.

Thanks for the video brad!

STEER_1981 said:

Brad, could you explain what you mean by "talks with their head?"  As I understand it, a calf's back should remain in a natural position while on the move.  But should the head move slightly up in down, or should it remain vertically still?  Thanks.

Click to expand...

Like CAB already said, I call them "HEAD BOBBERS".  If you ever get a chance to go into a good commercial herd of cows that have to walk a ways for their water, stop and watch them as they're going to get a drink.  There heads are bobbing up and down, chewing their cud, without a care in the world.  Too often when we analyse cattle with clubby breeding we can't help but stereotype them by their sires and the known problems that they can pass on and OFTEN do. 

Generally when the head remains still or even somewhat stiff, that means they are laboring in their movement.  If they're laboring, chances are they're too vertical somewhere.

GoWyo said:

CAB - are you talking the Felony bull that is out of the Charolais bull Kojack and sister to Yellow Jacket?  We have used him on 2 commercial limmie x angus cows.  The steer is a solid county fair steer, better cow would have made better calf, but he is sound and stout.  Heifer will be a good commercial cow, but won't be anything fancy.  Did not see much out of him this year and did not have a chance to use him last spring, but would use again.  Disposition is really good on these calves.

Click to expand...

That's the bull that I am curious to see what he can do. I like the pedigree and looks of him. I think that he froze a little late in the season, but I think that he should work well. I'm hoping that he may breed very similar to Yellow Jacket, but throw more smokes wide better hair and moderate size some in comparison to Yellow Jacket. Thanks for the reply GoWyo. Brent