Frame Score (Height) in Cattle

This is a single characteristic of cattle that can allow the comparison of the potential mature height of different aged animals. It is one of many characteristics that can be used to select animals for breeding. Providing nutrition remains constant and there are no diseases to slow growth, the rate of increase in frame size of an animal remains uniform and predictable throughout the their growth years.

We use this measurement to predict the mature height of our young bulls and heifers. Having said this, a larger framed animal is of no use to you if it does not have correct conformation, good muscling, good feed conversion ratios etc. In general, cattle with higher frame scores attain a greater mature weight, simply because there is more bone on which to lay down meat.

The following tables allow you to calculate the frame score of any animal aged six months or more (measured at the hook or hip-in centimeters). Most Highlands in Australia have a frame score of 3-5.

Frame Score – Bulls

Age (mths)	1	2	3	4	5	6
6	89	94	99	104	109	114
7	91	97	102	107	112	117
8	94	99	104	109	114	119
9	97	102	107	112	117	122
10	99	104	109	114	119	124
11	102	107	112	117	122	127
12	104	109	114	119	124	130
13	105	110	116	121	126	131
14	107	112	117	122	127	132
15	108	113	118	123	128	133
16	109	114	119	124	130	135
17	110	116	121	126	131	136
18	112	116	122	127	132	137
19	112	117	123	128	133	138
20	113	118	123	128	133	138
21	114	119	124	129	134	139
22	114	119	124	130	135	140
23	115	120	125	130	135	140
24	116	121	126	131	136	141
Maturity	119	124	130	135	140	145

Frame Score – Females

Age (months)	1	2	3	4	5	6
5	86	91	96	101	106	111
6	88	93	98	103	108	113
7	90	95	100	105	110	115
8	91	97	102	107	112	117
9	93	98	103	108	113	118
10	95	100	105	110	115	120
11	97	102	107	112	117	122
12	99	104	109	114	119	124
13	101	106	111	116	121	126
14	102	107	112	117	122	127
15	104	109	114	119	124	129
16	105	110	115	120	125	130
17	106	111	116	121	126	131
18	107	112	117	122	127	132
24	110	115	120	125	130	135
Mature(2)	112	117	122	127	132	137
Mature(3)	114	119	124	129	134	139

* Mature(2) – mature frame score of cows that calve at 2 years of age.
* Mature(3) – mature frame score of cows that calve at 3 years of age.

Frame Score (Height) in Cattle

Frame Score – Bulls

Frame Score – Females

Bairnsley Highlands

Quick Links