Dairy Animal Lifetime Record Template - Iowa 4-H Youth Development (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

Dairy Animal Lifetime Record Template - Iowa 4-H Youth Development Page 2

II. Growth Record

(Record animal growth information in the blanks provided.)

Age of animal

(months)

Height

(inches)

Weight

(pounds)

Chest

(inches)

One way to use the above information is to calculate the average daily gain. To calculate average daily gain

a) Compute total gain by taking the most current weight minus the first weight you recorded.

b) Compute the number of days on the growth period by counting the number of days between the first and last weight

you recorded.

c) ADG = Total gain divided by the number of days in the growth period.

Growth Chart

Three growth charts are given. Select the one for the breed of your animal. Plot the height and weight of your heifer every two

months on the chart. Use a solid line to connect the points you plot for weight. Connect the points you plot for height using a

dotted line. Compare the growth curve of your animal with the breed average. The lines already on the chart represent the

average growth curves for each breed.

Holstein, Brown Swiss, and Milking Shorthorn Growth Chart

Dairy Animal Lifetime Record Template - Iowa 4-H Youth Development Page 2