Sep 20, 2018
Beef Conformation: Hind Legs
*This is an excerpt from Beef Conformation Basics, ANR-1452.
Hind leg structure is one of the primary indicators of an animal’s ability to move efficiently. Evaluating cattle while they are walking is one of the most efficient ways to gauge structural soundness. One way to determine if the angle of the hock is correct is if the rear foot is placed in the tracks left by the front foot when the animal is moving forward. Cattle with the ability to do this are usually structurally sound in regard to their hind leg conformation.
Large angles at the hock can seriously restrict the animal’s length of stride as far as the hind legs are concerned. When the angle of the hock is too large, the stifle, hock, and pastern are all pulled into a formation that is too linear to allow for adequate flexibility and proper function. Animals that suffer from this condition are said to be post legged. This condition causes problems for both market and breeding animals.
Both males and females that are post legged are usually less efficient and less durable in a pasture. In conditions in which cattle need to cover large areas for forage, structural integrity is of utmost importance. A similar statement can be made in regard to feedlot settings in which cattle need to be structurally sound in order to compete for feed. In regard to reproduction, bulls that are post legged can face issues when it comes to breeding due to the extreme angle of their hind legs and the fact that these legs support the bull’s weight during the act of breeding. These bulls may also face issues when it comes to traveling the distances associated with covering large groups of females in larger pasture settings.
Just as the angle at the hock can be too large, it can also be too small, or acute. Cattle with this condition are commonly referred to as sickle hocked. With this condition, the angle of the hock is too small, and cattle usually have their hind legs and hooves placed too far underneath them. Cattle that are sickle hocked can sometimes overstep the hoof prints left by their front hooves. Although sickle-hocked cattle can also have an abnormal gate, this condition is far less detrimental to longevity and mobility than the short, inefficient strides seen in post-legged cattle.
The importance of being able to assess hind leg structure in beef cattle is vital to assessing potential longevity of the animal as it relates to structural integrity. Although no method is fail-safe, evaluating the pastern, hock, and stifle in order to see how they align is a solid step. Ideally, these three joints will align in an angle between 140 and 145 degrees. The calves shown in Figures 6 and 7 are examples of sickle-hocked and post- legged cattle, respectively. Figure 8 shows a 145-degree angle between stifle, hock, and pastern, which would fall into the ideal range.
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*This is an excerpt from Beef Conformation Basics, ANR-1452.
The two points of reference to be aware of in evaluating the hip are the hooks and pins. Both points are identified in Figures 16 and 17, with the pins being the point beneath the tail head. Although some breeds, such as those influenced by Brahman genetics, are less likely to be level, the ideal beef animal would be nearly level from hooks to pins. Although it is not always the case, a level hip normally equals a longer, more muscular hip if for no other reason than length itself. Also, a level hip is normally considered more eye-appealing. As the hip becomes less level, it can become shorter and be associated with other issues such as cattle having their hind legs placed too far beneath them.
Some producers have defended cattle with a minor slope from hooks to pins by saying these cattle have an advantage when it comes to calving and expelling afterbirth. As long as the slope is not extreme, not much compromise is made in regard to structural correctness.
One of the more problematic arrangements of the hip can be found when cattle are higher at their pins than at their hooks. In females, this can lead to problems with calving and expelling afterbirth. Although the calving problem is only expressed in females, breeding bulls exhibiting this characteristic should be selected against as well in order to not perpetuate the characteristic.
*This is an excerpt from Beef Conformation Basics, ANR-1452.
From the front, cattle whose hooves are faced forward are ideal. The steer shown in figure 14 is a good example of both hooves pointing directly forward. Much as it is with the hind legs, some angle in the outward direction is acceptable, and any angle of 10 degrees or less is accepted as normal. Functionality of the front end is normally not compromised until the outward turn approaches 30 degrees or more. Cattle with this condition are commonly referred to as being splay footed. Cattle that are splay footed can usually also be classified as being knock kneed. Figure 15 is a good example of a heifer having both of these conditions.
Another condition in beef cattle concerning the front limbs occurs when the front hooves point inward toward each other. Cattle exhibiting this condition are said to be pigeon toed. This condition is rarely seen and is detrimental to the functionality of the forelimbs.
*This is an excerpt from Beef Conformation Basics, ANR-1452.
When evaluating beef cattle from the rear, hooves of the animal should point forward. However, that is not the case in a large number of beef cattle. In many instances, the hooves of the hind legs turn outward instead of pointing forward. Cattle with this condition are commonly referred to as being cow hocked. The hocks are also usually turned inward and can be closer together than the hooves in some extreme cases. In milder cases, cattle are unhindered in terms of normal productivity. The steer shown in Figure 12 is slightly cow hocked but would be considered normal, as anything less than a 10-degree angle is considered as normal. In some extreme cases, this condition can result in uneven toe growth and wear. Cattle more extreme in this condition are usually very light muscled as is the heifer shown in Figure 13.
Less commonly seen in beef cattle is the condition known as bowleggedness. This term is used to describe cattle whose hooves are pointed inward on their hind limbs. Though this term may also be used to describe a similar condition in the front limbs, it usually describes cattle that are farther apart at the hocks than at their hooves. This condition is considered more serious in terms of inhibiting proper mobility and is far less common in comparison to the cow-hocked condition.