Hip Height/Frame

Frame score: Hip height converted to frame score is a linear measurement that helps cattle producers evaluate lean-to-fat ratio potential of an individual animal in a performance program. No one frame size will be best for all feed resources, breeding systems, and markets. Large-framed animals tend to be heavier at all weights, leaner, and later maturing. Small-framed animals tend to be lighter, fatter, and earlier maturing. Frame scores can be monitored to maintain body size, fatness level, and maturing rate within the optimum ranges dictated by the resources, breeding system, and market specifications of a herd. Frame score is a convenient way of describing the skeletal size of cattle. With appropriate height and growth curves, most animals usually maintain the same frame score throughout their life, regardless of when they are evaluated. However, frame scores may change for animals that mature earlier or later than average for their breed. The recommended site for hip height measurement is a point directly over the hooks. This measurement should be adjusted to a weaning age endpoint of 205 days and to yearling age endpoints of 365, 452 or 550 days. The same age range guidelines as for weaning and yearling weight recording should be used.

Caution should be taken when using the frame score equations and tables. These calculations were developed from cattle data from the 1970s. Cattle have changed tremendously since then, and the growth curve has likely changed, as well. The relationships of height as animals age may no longer be correct. Additionally, predictions of expected carcass weights or mature cow weights based on these frame scores that appear in many publications are likely incorrect today. Cattle today tend to be heavier, at similar heights, to cattle used to develop the frame score equation.

The following tables give estimates of cattle height at different ages, along with adjustment equations for bulls and females based on cattle data from the 1970s. Values for steers are not available; however, bull height estimates may be used as approximations for steers.

Hip Heights (inches) and Frame Scores for 5 to 21-Month-Old Bulls

Age (months)	Frame Score
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
5	33.5	35.5	37.5	39.5	41.6	43.6	45.6	47.7	49.7
6	34.8	36.8	38.8	40.8	42.9	44.9	46.9	48.9	51
7	36	38	40	42.1	44.1	46.1	48.1	50.1	52.2
8	37.2	39.2	41.2	43.2	45.2	47.2	49.3	51.3	53.3
9	38.2	40.2	42.3	44.3	46.3	48.3	50.3	52.3	54.3
10	39.2	41.2	43.3	45.3	47.3	49.3	51.3	53.3	55.3
11	40.2	42.2	44.2	56.2	48.2	50.2	52.2	54.2	56.2
12	41	43	45	47	49	51	53	55	57
13	41.8	43.8	45.8	47.8	49.8	51.8	53.8	55.8	57.7
14	42.5	44.5	46.5	48.5	50.4	52.4	54.4	56.4	58.4
15	43.1	45.1	47.1	49.1	51.1	53	55	57	59
16	43.6	45.6	47.6	49.6	51.6	53.6	55.6	57.5	59.5
17	44.1	46.1	48.1	50.1	52	54	56	58	60
18	44.5	46.5	48.5	50.5	52.4	54.4	56.4	58.4	60.3
19	44.9	46.8	48.8	50.8	52.7	54.7	56.7	58.7	60.6
20	45.1	47.1	49.1	51	53	55	56.9	58.9	60.9
21	45.3	47.3	49.2	51.2	53.2	55.1	57.1	59.1	61

Frame Score = -11.548 + (0.4878 x Ht) – (0.0289 x Age) + (0.00001947 x Age²) + (0.0000334 x Ht x Age), where Age = days of age.

Hip Heights (inches) and Frame Scores for Mature Bulls

Age (months)	Frame Score
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
24	46.4	48.3	50.3	52.3	53.9	56	58	60	52	64	66
30	47.3	49.3	51.3	53.2	54.9	57	59	61	63	65	67
36	48	50	51.9	53.8	55.5	57.5	59.5	61.5	63.5	65.5	67.4
≥48	48.5	50.4	52.3	54.1	55.9	58	60	62	63.9	65.8	67.7

Hip Heights (inches) and Frame Scores for 5 to 21-Month-Old Heifers

Age (months)	Frame Score
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
5	33.1	35.1	37.2	39.3	41.3	43.4	45.5	47.5	49.6
6	34.1	36.2	38.2	40.3	42.3	44.4	46.5	48.5	50.6
7	35.1	37.1	39.2	41.2	43.3	45.3	47.4	49.4	51.5
8	36	38	40.1	42.1	44.1	46.2	48.2	50.2	52.3
9	36.8	38.9	40.9	42.9	44.9	47	49	51	53
10	37.6	39.6	41.6	43.7	45.7	47.7	49.7	51.7	53.8
11	38.3	40.3	42.3	44.3	46.4	48.4	50.4	52.4	54.4
12	39	41	43	45	47	49	51	53	55
13	39.6	41.6	43.6	45.5	47.5	49.5	51.5	53.5	55.5
14	40.1	42.1	44.1	46.1	48	50	52	54	56
15	40.6	42.6	44.5	46.5	48.5	50.5	52.4	54.4	56.4
16	41	43	44.9	46.9	48.9	50.8	52.8	54.8	56.7
17	41.4	43.3	45.3	47.2	49.2	51.1	53.1	55.1	57
18	41.7	43.6	45.6	47.5	49.5	51.4	53.4	55.3	57.3
19	41.9	43.9	45.8	47.7	49.7	51.6	53.6	55.5	57.4
20	42.1	44.1	46	47.9	49.8	51.8	53.7	55.6	57.6
21	42.3	44.2	56.1	48	50	51.9	53.8	55.7	57.7

Frame Score = -11.7086 + (0.4723 x Ht) – (0.0239 x Age) + (0.0000146 x Age²) + (0.0000759 x Ht x Age), where Age = days of age.

Hip Heights (inches) and Frame Scores for Mature Cows

Age (months)	Frame Score
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
24	43.1	45	46.9	48.8	50.7	52.5	54.5	56.4	58.2	60.1	62
30	43.8	45.8	47.5	49.4	51.3	53.1	55.1	57	58.9	60.8	62.5
36	44.2	46.1	48	49.8	51.8	53.6	55.5	57.2	59.2	61	62.8
≥48	44.6	46.5	48.2	50	52	53.9	55.8	57.5	59.4	61.2	63