The price of bulls is measured by live weight. If a farmer decides to start raising livestock, he will need to know how much an ox, cow or calf weighs on average. This is necessary, for example, in order not to acquire a sick animal. Knowing the mass that the bull weighs, you can immediately decide on the future diet for him.
Each breed of cattle has its own weight. The Kholmogory species, for example, is significantly different in mass from others. The bull of the breed is larger than the cow, its average weight reaches 500 or 700 kilograms, and an adult hardened bull can have a live weight equal to a ton.
Weight is directly dependent on the age of the animal and its state of health, sick individuals have a lower live weight. Livestock can be divided into weight categories:
- The selected category of cows corresponds to a weight of 500 kilograms. A breeding porcelain white cow can reach a mass equal to a ton.
- The first category of cattle is a little smaller than the selected one. The volume of the animal can be 400 or 450 kilos, this is the approximate weight of a medium-sized horse.
- Animals of the second category will be no larger than 400 kilograms.
- The third category is the smallest. The average weight of a cow varies between 300 or 380 kilos.
Advice: Deviations from the weight norm indicate the illness of the animal. Perhaps the cattle were not fattened properly. The average optimal weight is considered to be an interval from 350 kilos to 450, small breeds should have a body weight close to 300 kilograms.
Calf measurement
A calf is usually born at forty kilograms, but grows at a rapid pace. During the first two months of his life, several measurements are required, once every 14 days is enough. Monthly animals are more than newborns by 10 or 30 kilos, it depends on belonging to a particular breed.
With regular measurements, changes in the growth of a young bull are monitored, if necessary, the diet of the calf is changed. To measure body weight, it is not necessary to use scales, you can take a measuring tape, and the obtained parameters are compared with special tabular data. The table contains the characteristics of the body length of the animal, chest girth. The graph where these data intersect corresponds to the desired weight value. It cannot be said that by this method the weight is determined by one hundred percent. To measure without errors, it is still better to use a scale.
How are adult animals measured?
Not all novice farmers know how to find out the mass of bulls bought or grown on their farm. The weight of adult bulls is often determined from a measuring table; its formula cannot be called complicated. A grown bull at the age of one year is measured according to the Trukhanovsky method, this is the easiest method.
A one year old steer can be measured with a tape measure or tape. It is important how long the body and the girth of the sternum wake up.
Tip: To get exact result it is necessary to take into account the fatness of the cattle as a percentage, which will need to be added or subtracted.
The percentage depends on the belonging of cows and bulls to the breed, whether it is a meat animal or a dairy one. With high fatness, from 5 to 10 percent must be added to the total value obtained by the formula. If the animal is distinguished by thinness, 5 or 10 percent are taken away.
In order to find out the weight of adult cattle, there is the Kuver Strauch method. The first measure is the girth of the sternum, then the body oblique. A table is used to verify the result.
There is a method applicable exclusively to certain breeds, when the largest parts of the bull's body are to be measured. Only chest girth and peritoneal girth are calculated.
In order to measure large animals, a regression level is sometimes applied. The measuring tape should wrap around the bull or cow so that it passes under the chest.
How to find out the meat output?
When they talk about the meat of an animal, they mean muscles, cartilage, and other tissues. Dairy breeds are smaller in their muscle mass compared to males.
The amount of beef obtained from the carcass is influenced by: the breed, age of the animal, conditions of detention and diet. It is not necessary that an imposing bull will give tasty beef.
Buying livestock requires special skills and knowledge. You cannot simply rely on the information provided by the owner. It is necessary to personally verify the veracity of the data in order not to waste money in vain. And for this, let's find out how much a cow weighs and how to measure its weight without scales.
Averages and weight categories
It is very important to know how much an adult cow should weigh. After all, it is this indicator that determines the value of livestock. The better you understand these issues, the easier it will be to buy healthy cows.
In addition, this information is simply necessary for the selection of a diet. To maintain the health of the animal, it must receive the amount of food established by the norms.
The average weight of a cow depends on several factors:
- type and breed;
- age;
- gender - just imagine that a female can reach a figure of 600 kg, and a male of the same breed will overtake her by 400-450 kg;
- conditions of detention and compliance with the diet.
There are 4 weight categories in total. After selected cows (on average they reach a mass of 450-500 kg), there are representatives of the first, second and third classes. They should grow to 400-450 kg, 380-400 kg, 300-380 kg respectively.
If you are offered a select category of cattle, and you see that the weight of a cow or bull is less than 450 kg, it is worth considering that the animal may have been poorly fed, did not comply with the conditions of detention and did not care for it.
Based on the above, we have the following indicators. A healthy adult, subject to the prescribed diet, should have an average weight of about 350–450 kg. If the animal belongs to the representatives small breeds, then this figure rarely exceeds 300 kg. The weight of a large bull averages up to 750–800 kg.
Calf weight measurement method
In fact, to find out the weight of a calf, you can do without scales. For this, there is a special table developed by Frowin. It has only two parameters needed to determine the mass.
First you need to measure the oblique body length of the calf. Then - the girth of the chest. Where exactly to take measurements can be found in the image in the table. Chest measurements are recorded in the left column. Above - oblique length. At the point of their intersection is the final result.
Let's take an example. If the first value is 114 and the second is 95, then the calf weighs 119 kg. Everything is pretty simple. Just remember that these are only approximate figures. Of course, the formula is tested and reliable, but if the scales show a difference of several kilograms, then you should not be surprised.
Methods for measuring adult cattle
When buying a cow or a bull, the future owner often has problems with determining the weight of the animal. To determine the live weight of cattle without scales, you can use the weight measurement table using measurements.
To do this, you will need a measuring tape and the table below. They will help determine the approximate weight of the animal, so as not to be mistaken and not overpay. This information will certainly help those who are poorly versed in livestock measurements. Even professionals, in order to find out the live weight of a bull without special weights, use similar tables.
There are several interesting ways. It is worth familiarizing yourself with them and choosing the right one.
Body measurement
This is the most popular method, because it is enough for him to simply measure the cow. We need two values. The first is the girth of the chest, and the second is the straight length of the body. Next, we find the weight according to the formula.
True, for a more accurate result, fatness is also taken into account. If the animal is above average fatness, then add 5-10% to the mass. If it is lower, then, on the contrary, they take away 5-10%.
Klüver-Strauch method
The second method also requires measurements. First measure the girth of the chest, and then the oblique length of the body. In the left column there is the first value, and at the top - the second. In their intersection we see the exact result.
It is very important to measure everything correctly. The more accurate the measurement, the more likely it is to make a successful deal.
Chest and belly
This method was previously applied only to certain breeds of cattle, for example, black-and-white. But today, after the experiments and calculations, we can confidently say that such measurements also help to determine the mass.
The girth of the belly should be measured in the fattest places. Two values should be found in the columns of the table (left - chest girth, top - belly). At the intersection of two values and the desired value will be found.
regression equation
The most important thing here is to measure the bust circumference correctly. To do this, use a measuring tape. We circle it around the body so that it is placed under the chest. Next, we use special formulas.
The first is applied if the chest girth is 170-180 cm, the second is 181-191, the third is 192 cm or more. Remember that Y is the result that shows the mass of the animal, and X is the girth that we got after the measurement.
Now we see that it is not so difficult to find out how much a healthy bull or cow weighs. It is enough to understand the process of measuring an animal and always have the necessary table with you. These methods will help both professionals and novice farmers.
The largest bull in the world exceeds the weight of 1500 kg. This is a truly huge animal that lived in the last century. The record for his weight has not yet been broken, although there are many breeds of cattle, and farmers today use the best feed and Hi-tech for growing beef bulls.
The largest bull in the world exceeds the weight of 1500 kg There are several main types of cow breeds: dairy, meat and dairy and meat. Representatives of the meat breed are distinguished by a large body weight, as they are specially fattened. In addition, they do not milk, and the calves are not separated from the udder too early. They are next to their mother for a year, so these calves are already in early age larger than other breeds.
Then the grown calves are transferred to a mixture of feed, hay and vegetables, and later grain is introduced into the diet. Such nutrition helps to achieve rapid weight gain.
There are several main types of cow breeds: dairy, meat and dairy and meat. From quality feed improves the taste of meat. The largest meat breeds include:
- Italian. Representatives of this particular breed are the largest, with the greatest body weight. Moreover, Italian cows are bred exclusively for meat. Farmers feed and raise cows and bulls so that they gain only muscle mass. The amount of fat is a small fraction. Therefore, the meat of this species is highly valued for excellent taste qualities. Animals of the Italian breed have only a white or light cream color, for which they were nicknamed "porcelain". The average weight of bulls exceeds 1000 kg, and the height at the withers can reach 2 m. For comparison, the largest turkey in the world weighs 30 kg, a pig weighs about 700, and the weight of large horses reaches 1000 kg. But if the same turkeys are easy to feed, and the turkeys hatch in large numbers, then it takes a lot of effort to raise a muscular bull. The Italian breed has several millennia of existence.
- Kalmyk. This meat breed was bred by the inhabitants of Central Asia about 400 years ago. Kalmyk cows and bulls are the best achievement of domestic farmers and breeders. These are not soy-soaked cuts of beef. Kalmyk bulls quickly build muscle mass in a natural way. Them distinctive feature is unpretentiousness in care. Growing up in a difficult steppe climate, they easily adapt to any change in the situation. Cows usually weigh 500-700 kg, bulls - 800-1100 kg. The color of animals is brown, red or brown. As a result of long breeding work with the participation of Kalmyk bulls and cows in 2007 in the Volgograd region, a new highly productive breed was bred - Russian polled. The characteristics of its representatives are similar to the Kalmyks, only the animals have a black color.
- Hereford. It is the most common meat breed, bred in England several centuries ago. Successful breeding work by English farmers has turned Herefords into highly productive animals, although they were once used only as work force on the fields. Today it is considered the most delicious, "marble" with veins. More than half of the powerful physique of the animal falls on the muscles. Like Kalmyk cattle, Herefords are used to breed improved meat breeds.
- Charolais. French breed of cattle, bred in the 18th century. The weight of the Charolais bull is 1000-1500 kg. Calves at birth already weigh about 60 kg. The representative of this breed is a strong and hardy bull. It does not require special conditions of detention and easily adapts to adverse conditions. climatic conditions. A distinctive feature of Charolais bulls is the late accumulation subcutaneous fat, so from one male you can get more than 500 kg of tender and healthy meat.
- Holstein. These are red-and-white or black-and-white cows. Initially, they were bred in Holland, but American breeders managed to achieve high productivity from cows. Adult bulls reach a weight of 1200 kg, and cows - 800 kg.
Gallery: the biggest bulls in the world (25 photos)
Record Animals
Bulls-record holders belong to the Italian breed. Their muscles are huge, as if inflated on top of each other. They are also unmatched in strength. Interestingly, the temperament of the strong men is not violent at all. Huge Italians are distinguished by their complaisant nature and friendly attitude towards people and animals.
The largest bull in the world was born in Switzerland in the middle of the 20th century. His name was Donneto. Its maximum weight was 1740 kg, and at the withers it reached 190 cm. Today, Chili lives on an English farm - a bull, which, with a weight of 1300 kg, was entered into the Guinness Book of Records. He was born in 1999. This is the largest bull to date. Chile adds about 100 kg per year, so his final weight is still unknown.
Another English bull, named Field Marshal, is currently the weight record holder. In growth, he did not reach an impressive size, but his weight exceeds 1700 kg. How much the bull weighs now is unknown, as its muscle mass is constantly increasing.
Wanting to purchase healthy livestock, the buyer wants to get as much information about the animals as possible. One of the most important indicators confirming the quality of the product is the weight of cattle, since it is directly related to the health of a cow, bull or calf, and will also affect their productivity and meat yield in the future.
The weight of cattle (cattle) carries a lot of information for livestock representatives. So, knowing the body weight of an animal, we can say about its physical condition as well as growth and development. 
Data on how much a cow or bull weighs is necessary for calculating and compiling a diet, vaccination doses.
Did you know? The intestines of a cow make up 30% of its weight.
The standard weight of cattle is influenced by its:
- age;
- breed;
In animal husbandry, it is customary to distinguish the following categories of cattle mass:
- selected- weight is within 450-500 kg;
- first grade- weight up to 450 kg;
- second grade- the weight of the cattle is within 400 kg;
- third grade- 300 kg.
If the average animal weight is significantly different with an allowable error of 30 kg for an adult, then this may indicate an improper diet and diet, the presence of diseases.
Bull
The average weight of a bull should be one and a half times the weight of a cow, which is approximately 700-800 kg, while in an adult bull of a large meat breed, this figure can reach a ton and even exceed this value, amounting to 1200 kg. 
cows
The average heifer can weigh about 350 kg, but no less if it does not belong to small breeds.
Meat cows can weigh up to 700 kg if they are over two years old and kept in good conditions.
calf
At birth, the weight of the calf should be slightly less than 10% of the body weight of the mother, which is an average of 40 kg. It can vary and depend on the weight and breed of the baby's parents.
Calves grow rapidly, just like newborns, they should be regularly weighed in order to understand how much they are gaining, whether everything is in order with health and whether there is a need to introduce changes in the diet of a young bull or cow. 
At the age of 1 month, the weight of the calf should increase by at least 10 kg, on average they gain about 30 kg, that is, they double their birth rates. At the age of six months, he is transferred to adult food and less often, but always once a month, weight measurements are taken.
How does the weight of cattle differ depending on the breed
Specialists involved in cattle breeding and selection identify about a thousand breeds of cows all over the world. However, all of them are usually divided into three main types, based on their purpose in the economy:
- dairy;
- meat;
- meat and dairy.
Dairy
A distinctive feature of the products of dairy cows can be called:
- milk with high fat content;
- less nutritious meat.
Among the livestock of this species, the most popular breeds in our region are:
Meat
Characterizing cattle of this species, we can name such distinctive features, as:
- fast weight gain;
- meat over High Quality due to the special development of muscles;
- more refined taste.
- . An adult cow can be 500-600 kg of weight, and a bull - 800-1100 g. Meat yield - 53-65%, less often 70%;
- . Cows also gain 500-600 kg of weight, and bulls are slightly smaller - about 800 kg. Product yield - 60%;
- . An adult bull gains 1200 kg, and a heifer - 800 kg, despite the fact that they have a lot of meat, but not much fat, as well as a large yield of meat products;
- . They are extremely unpretentious in nutrition, since they eat any vegetation, while reaching 550 kg at 16 months. In addition, the skin of this breed is used in the manufacture of shoes;
- Znamenovskaya. It has more miniature forms, since a cow of this breed will weigh a maximum of 550 kg, and a bull - 700 kg. Leather is also used to make shoes and bags.
Representatives of this species have a strong body and are universally used both for milk production and for meat products.
They produce more meat than dairy and more milk than meat. The average weight is in the range of 550-900 kg, depending on the gender.
Did you know? Cows live an average of twenty years, although there are also centenarians. Bulls live less, fifteen years.
Meat and dairy breeds of KRG, which are popular among livestock breeders, are:
- Brown Carpathian;
- Lebedinskaya;
- Alatau;
- Red Gorbatovskaya;
- Yurinskaya;
- Shvitskaya;
- Red Tambov;
- Yorkshire;
- Caucasian brown;
- Simmental.
Simmental
What determines the weight of cattle
The weight of bred livestock directly depends on the conditions of its maintenance, as well as on the nutrition provided by the livestock breeder. There are also recommendations for breeding and care, depending on the breed and type of cow.
So, for example, cows meat type long and exhausting grazing is not required and even to a certain extent contraindicated, since they can lose their own weight. They are advised to grow in a stall.
Important! Environment, diet and diet, climate and housing conditions in the complex affect the health and weight gain of livestock.
When organizing a barn for breeding cattle, one should take into account the importance of such aspects as:
- temperature regime. The room should not be cooler than +10 °C, if it is not cold content, for adult cattle and +15 °C for calves;
- indoor humidity;
- good lighting;
- gas saturation;
- No noise, calm environment.
It is worth taking care of the pasture. Its use makes the breeding process less costly, while the cow's body can fully develop, her movements are not constrained, she breathes fresh air bathed in sunshine. Walking on pasture has the most beneficial effect on dairy and meat-and-dairy cows.
Animal feeding
Properly organized feeding should be of high quality. It includes:
- vegetable feed: succulent (grass, silage, root crops), coarse (hay, straw), concentrated (technical waste, grain);
- animals;
- chemical and microbiological synthesis;
- compound feed and feed mixtures;
- vitamin and mineral supplements.
Today, cattle breeding is not only profitable business but also an important economic sector. Today there are approximately three hundred breeds, each of which has its own advantages. The weight of a bull directly depends on the breed to which it belongs.
All breeds can be divided into several types, of which there are only five. Livestock specialists divide all existing breeds into the following groups: European large long-horned European cattle, which are bred mainly in the steppes and on the plains; European large short-horned cattle, distributed mainly in the zone of mountain forests and mountains; livestock Central Asia; humpback cattle of South Asia and North Africa. In addition to classification by geographical affiliation, there are also craniological and economic.
The predominant nature of the productive use of cattle is a classification feature; accordingly, there are three groups - meat, dairy and combined meat and dairy. The breed and breed formation of cattle is not a biological term, but rather a zootechnical and historical concept. A breed is a very complex artificial system that was created by man under certain conditions of the economy and nature.
The creation of a breed is carried out for the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the necessary parameters in any animals. So dairy breeds do not have to have an impressive mass, and meat breeds - to give a large number of milk.
The weight of an average bull, for example, the most common dairy breed (Dutch Black-and-White) can reach up to a thousand kilograms. Cows of this breed weigh much less - only about 600-700 kg.
On the territory of modern Siberia, black-and-white cattle were bred due to the mating of the Dutch breed with local animals. It is for this reason that the average weight of animals, as well as the amount of milk per year, is much lower.
The Simmental breed of cows is distinguished by an unusual color, which can be either red, fawn and motley, as well as all sorts of mixtures of these colors. Both cows and bulls are very graceful, and have light horns and hooves, a bright pink nose and a completely white head and the very tip of the tail with a tassel. The average weight of bulls of this breed ranges from 700 to 1100 kg, and cows - from 500 to 700 kg. Significant fattening of meat is a distinctive feature of the breed. By the age of one year, males gain more than 400 kg, and after another six months - more than 575. The output weight exceeds 60%. Cattle of the Kostroma breed belongs to the mixed direction. This is due to both their strong physique with abundant formation of muscle mass, and rapid growth. Their color varies throughout the palette. shades of gray. Bulls in their weight exceed the mark of 950 kg, often their body weight reaches up to 1000 kg, while females weigh an average of 450 kg less. The output mass of meat products is about 60%.
Bulls of the Lebedinsky breed usually do not reach large weights, since the very direction of the breed is dairy. Their body weight still reaches 800 kg. Bulls of the brown Latvian breed are characterized by medium size and grow up to 750 kg.
Similar weight indicators are in animals of the Kholmogory breed, which is distinguished by an elongated shape of the body and limbs, as well as a black-and-white color. The red steppe breed, which was originally bred in Zaporozhye, has also become widespread in the post-Soviet space, and work is still underway to improve the qualities of animals of this species. Males that have reached maturity weigh from 950 to 1250 kg, females weigh almost 2 times less. The weight of a breeding bull belonging to the dairy and meat direction of the Swiss breed is on average 1000 kg. For bulls of the Bestuzhev breed, the average weight is about 750-900 kg, although they are considered quite large and strong. Hereford cow bulls weigh at least 900 kg, and often more than 1000. They are also characterized by marbling of meat and a large slaughter yield. Kazakh white-headed bulls weigh 800-1000 kg and are distinguished by a strong, squat physique, which is especially pronounced in the shoulder girdle.
It can be noted that the weight of the bull depends primarily on the direction of the breed. So meat will enjoy large quantity muscle mass, which, accordingly, will be somewhat heavier than their dairy counterparts. If we take the average indicators of breeds, then the average weight of a bull is about 800-850 kg.