PSI-38 Relationship between body condition score, claw set, and foot angle in Angus and Red Angus beef cows grazing native annual-grass rangeland in northern California

Abstract

Abstract Evaluating the structure of beef cows, especially when replacement females are being selected, has great emphasis on production goals, particularly longevity of the female. Two structure traits that are important when evaluating beef cattle are claw set and foot angle, yet the relationship between body condition scores (BCS), claw set, foot angle and year of age has not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between BCS, claw set and foot angle in Angus (n = 40) and Red Angus (n = 19) beef cows grazing irrigated pasture and annual-grass rangeland in northern California. Traits were collected 44 d post-weaning and included BCS, claw set, and foot angle. Claw set and foot angle were collected using the scale of the American Angus Association (e.g., scale = 1–9). Spring-calving beef cows were under similar management. At time of trait collection cows were grazing irrigated pasture (CP: 38%, and NDF: 49.2%, on a DM basis). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Fixed effects were claw set, foot angle and breed, and respective interactions. Body condition score was related to foot angle scores (r = 0.38; P < 0.01). Claw set was related to foot angle scores (r = 0.30; P < 0.05). Results showed BCS was not different among breeds, claw set, or year of age (P > 0.05). No relationship was detected among BCS and claw set. Interaction terms were not significant (P > 0.05). Cows with acceptable foot angle had lower BCS than unacceptable cows (5.86 ± 0.15 vs. 6.72 ± 0.21 BCS). Results indicate that BCS and foot angle are related. Further research to investigate effect of BCS on differences of foot angle is warranted.