Linear Measurement
Here we explain the Linear Measurement system developed by Gearld Fry and used extensively by Bakewell for evaluating cattle. Bakewell offers hands-on workshops in the use of this system.
Linear Measurement is a method of assessing live animals with an objective standard rather than a simple visual appraisal. This concept has been around for centuries (indicated on cave paintings from the 1200s in France, for example), but it has rarely been used in the livestock industry. Gearld Fry became a careful student of the work of Jan Bonsma, an animal scientist and author of the book Man Must Measure. Bonsma created the Bonsmara breed in South Africa by extensive use of measurements of many parts of the animal, including hair diameter, hide thickness, and so forth. (This book is available from www.bovineengineering.com.)
Gearld Fry studied Bonsma's concepts and proceeded to develop a system of measuring as well as tools for that purpose. These measurements, combined with a linear measurement spreadsheet Gearld has developed, allow us to sort and rank animals on qualities such as reproductive viability, volume of retail product, early maturity, and economically superior performance on grass.
We attended a recent seminar at Teddy Gentry's ranch in Alabama. Teddy Gentry harvests data on all of his animals, and he was able to compare the retail value of two different steers. These steers were exactly the same live weight and had comparable ultrasound statistics; they both were tender and had a similar amount of intramuscular fat. After the cattle were slaughtered, the resulting meat was weighed to compare the value of resulting retail cuts. One animal produced $400 more retail value than the other. The reason for the difference in value became clear once Linear Measurement data on the two animals were compared: the animal producing the greater retail value had a heart girth that was four inches larger than its top line; the other steer showed a one inch deficit for the same comparison.
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