The Exploration of a Four-Platform Standing Scale in the Application of Measuring Temperament in Beef Cattle
Abstract
To assess the validity of a four-platform standing scale (FPSS) to measure cattle
temperament, calves were evaluated at weaning age with an objective four-platform standing
scale (FPSS) and subjective methods of docility score, temperament score, and qualitative
behavior assessment (QBA). The standard deviation of total weight on FPSS over time (SSD),
SSD’s coefficient of variation (CVSSD) and first principal component of QBA attributes (i.e.,
temperament index; TI) were used as additional measures. The final mixed model included fixed
effects of date and sex, and random effect of calf. Estimates of heritability (ℎ") across all traits
were 0.141 to 0.439, except for QBA attribute of attentive (ℎ" = 0). Phenotypic correlation (-
0.006 to 0.299) and genetic correlation (-0.309 to 0.643) between FPSS and subjective methods
indicated FPSS may provide a valid way to capture temperament, but further verification with
more measurements will be necessary due to sample size in this project.