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The Belgian Blue Breed

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TheBelgianBluebreedrepresents50%ofthenationalherd,whichismadeupof�.083.408cows.

EXPANSION OF THE BREED

WhereasfullbloodBelgianBlueisusedinNorthernEuropeformeatproduction,itsextraor-dinaryqualityincrossbreedingprogramshasenhanceditsexpansioninthewholeworld.ThatiswhyweseeBelgianBluesinFrance,intheNetherlands,inGreatBritain,inIreland,inDen-mark,inUSA,inCanada,inBrazil,inAustralia,inNew-Zealand,inMexico...

Due its exceptional qualities in cross and fullbloodbreeding, therequestforbreedingstockisconstantlyincreasingworldwide.

TheBelgianBlueinAustralia

6�%oftheBelgianBluelivestockisintheWalloonregionand39%intheFlemishpartofBelgium.TheBelgianBlueherdisspreadalloverBelgium.However,itisintheProvincesofLuxemburg,HainautandWesternFlandersthatthenumberofBelgianBlueisthemostim-portant.

The breed is perfectly suited to a great diversity of soils and climates encountered in itsinternational expansion. Its very calm temperament and its docility are also very muchappreciated.

TheBelgianBlueinDenmark

D is trib u tio n o f th e B B h erd p er P ro v in ce4%

4%

11%

5%

15%

3%17%8%

20%

13%

A ntwerpLim bourg E as tern F landersF lam is h B rabant wes tern F landersW alloon B rabant HainautLiègeLux em bourgNam ur

EXPANSION OF THE BREED

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EXPANSION OF THE BREED EXPANSION OF THE BREED

Inordertoestablishinternationallytherecogni-tionoftheBelgianBluebreed,�6Herd-BookwerecreatedinEurope,America,AsiaandinAustralia.

These�6Herd-Books,membersoftheBBI,worktogetherinorderto:

• harmonize the methods and criteria of identifica-tionandregistrationofBBBinthedifferentHerd-Books;•keeptheregistersandregistrationpapersoftheanimalsexchangedorsold;•exchangeinformationregardingthebreedingofBelgianBlue;•favourtheexchangeofgenetics;•cooperateinthepromotionoftheBelgianBluebreed;•representinternationallytheinterestsoftheBel-gianBlue.

Internationalmeetings,breedingseminars,exchangeofjudges,carcasscompetitions...arenotablyorganizedwithintheframeworkofthiscollaboration.

Thankstothispromotion,theprecon-ceivedideasabouttheBelgianBluedisappearandthebreedexperiencesanalwaysgrowingsuccess.

CattleexhibitionattheHoustonshow(USA)

BelgianJudge:NationalTullamore(Ireland)

BelgianJudge:NationalIowa(USA)

BBStand,Regina(Canada)

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Butthewatershedoccurredbetween�960and�970.

Firstforbullsandlaterforcows,aclearpreferencewasgrantedtothemuscularde-velopment.Theresponsetothisselectionwasremarkable.Anewtypeofbreedappeared,combining significant muscle development (shoulders,withers,back,loin,andhindquarters), size, fine but solid bone structure, harmoniouscontourswithroundribs,in-clinedrump,hiddenhipsanddetachedtail.

In�973,thebreed,hithertocalled«racedeMoyenneetHauteBelgique»wasrenamedBELGIAN BLUE BREED dividedinto�distinctbranches:themeatytypeandthedualpurposetype.

ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED

fromfairlyuniformlocalcattleandtheverypopularSorthornswidelyusedinthesecondpartofthe�9thcentury.

However,everythingwascalledintoquestionwhentheFirstWorldWarbrokeout.Itwasonlyin�9�9thatanAgriculturalCharterwasdevelopedintheformofaRoyalDecreewhichpavedthewayforfurtherbreeddevelopment.

Theselectionworkstartedupagain,butwithaclearobjective:arectangular«dualpurpose»breedofcattle,withagoodstat-ure,averagemusclestructureandgoodmilkproduction(4.000litresat3.5%).

�90�

This trend was firmly maintained until 1950.

Onehastogobacktothebeginningofthepastcenturytosee the first selection attemptstobreedadualpurposeanimal

�930

�965

Theyearsfrom�950to�960wereaperiodoftransition,duringwhichtheearlysignsofaneworientationbecameclearlyvisible.

�940

BeginningXXème century

�975

ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED

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ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE BREED

Certain breeders have continued to selectanimals for combined milk and meat pro-duction. This selection developed paral-lel to the meaty type’s one, by using com-pletely different blood lines. The «Bleue duNord» type belongs to the same group andis found in the Maubeuge region in France.

Withtheestablishmentin�999oftheagri-en-vironmentalmeasurementplanfortheprotec-tionofendangeredspecies,theinterestforthisdualpurpose branch hasbeengrowingandasof�005,moreorless�50breedersusethedualpurposeBelgianBluetypeinBelgium.TheyarelocatedintheProvincesofHainautandBrabant.Withinthedualpurposetype,�variants are identified according to the geno-type:

BelgianBlueBreed

DUALPURPOSEtype MEATYtype

genotypemh/+or+/+genotypemh/mh*

Theseanimalsaregeneticallyidenticaltothemeatytypeones.Howevertheirselec-tionisalsobasedonthemilkproductionandtheeasy-calving.Theirmilkproductionvariesbetween4�00and4800litres.

Theseanimalsofdairytypeproduceonaver-agefrom5400to6000litresofmilk.

Theselectionofdoublemuscledcattleresponsestotheeconomicclimateandinparticular,tothedemandofameatindustryverysensitivetothemuscleconformation,reflecting the composition of the carcass. The increased profit linked to well muscled cat-tlepushesthebreederstomatethemeatiestanimalstoeachother.

Fromanoriginallydualpurposebreed,theBelgian Blue has become a specific breed ofbeefcattle,withthefollowingtraitsandbenefits: extraordinary muscle development, desirablemeatquality(tenderness),stature,early maturity, feed efficiency, docility, uni-formityandmaternalaptitudes.

*mh:muscularhy-pertrophygene

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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED

STATURE

COATApartfromthe«pie»character(recessivevis-à-vis«allcolored»)presentinmostcoloredanimals,threecolortypesaretypicalforthebreed:allwhite,blue(pie-blue)andblack(pie-black).These3phenotypescorrespondtotheisolationofagenepairinheritedfromtheShorthorns.Theblue(equivalenttotheroaninShort-horns)istheintermediate,heterozygotephenotype.Amongthese3phenotypes,theblackoneistheleastpopularinBelgium.

ParentalCombinations CompositionofthedescendantsWhiteBlueBlack

WhiteXWhite �00%WhiteXBlue 50% 50%WhiteXBlack �00%BlueXBlue �5% 50% �5%BlueXBlack 50% 50%BlackXBlack �00%

Theweightofanadultbullrangesfrombetween�.�00and�.�50kg,foraheightatthewithersofabout�m45to�m50.Indeed,itisbynomeansraretoseeanimalsheavierthan�.300kg.

Theaverageweightofanadultcowatthebeginningofpregnancyis700-750kg,withaheightatwithersof�3�to�34cm.Cowscanreachaweightof850to900kgandcanexceed�40cm.

Ageinmonths �� �4 36 48 60Weight(kg)

�stcategory 500 770 970 ���� ��36Allcategories 484 75� 966 ����

Height(cm)�stcategory ��0.4 �34 �4�.� �45.8Allcategories ��0.� �34.8 �4�.7 �45

Weight and height of bulls measured at official events

HeightofbreedingcowsAgeinmonths �8 �4 36 48 60

Height(cm)femalespresentedatofficial events

��4.6 �30.4 �33.� �34.6

breed’saverage(linearscore)

��7.9 ��3.3 ��7.9 �30.4 �3�.4

Nevertheless,inScotlandforinstance,theblackBelgianBluebullsarepopularforcrossingonAnguscows.

cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED

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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED

DAILY GAINFEED EFFICIENCY

Thehigherrate ismostlydue toaproteinweightgainandweakfatgain.Thefeedconver-sionrateisinthe5kgrangefrom7to�3months.Givenitslowpropensitytodepositfats,the«meaty»animalscanberaisedand«fattened»onadietrichinenergywhichleadstohigherweightswithoutexcessfats.The traditionalformula is toproduce�8 to�9montholdbullsweighingaround650kg.

TheAverageDailyGain(ADG)ofbullsfrom7to�3monthsmeasuredattheBovineSelectionStation(bullscalvesin-tendedforbreeding)reaches�.6kg/day.Infattening,theADGofbullsrisesto�.�kg.

Thefeedconversionrate(kgoffeedbykggrowth)issys-tematically better with the Belgian Blue.This cattle con-sumes less and transforms more efficiently.

KILLING-OUT PERCENTAGE CARCASS COmPOSITION

TheaveragekillingoutpercentageoftheBelgianBlueanimalsreachesatleast70%.Withacarcassyieldof8�%ormore,theseanimalsprovide,forthesameliveweightof600kgforexample,�00kgmoremeatthananimalswitha60%killing-out.InBelgium,70%ofyoungcattlefall in theSandEcategories(of the European classification system), while in the other E.U. countries, themajoritybelongs to theU,RandOclasses.TheBelgian Blue breed produces a lot of meat while causing verylittlewaste.

In thehandsof skilledBelgianbutchersmuscles that typicallygive�nd grade cuts are reclassified as 1stgradecutswhichincreas-estheyieldofconsumer-prizedfast-cookingpiecesby35%.

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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED

mEAT QUALITY

TheBelgianBluebreedhasbeenselectedbythebreederstosatisfytheconsumer’sexpectations.Statisticsshowthat inBel-gium each person consumes on average�00kgmeatperyear,ofwhich�0kgofbovine meat. The Belgian Blue contrib-utes75%oftheredmeatproduction.

Thebreedisnotonlycharacterizedbythequantityofproducedmeatbutalsobyitsquality.

TheBelgianBluemeatisrecommendedbydoctorsanddieticians.Indeed,itcontainslesscho-lesterol(+/-45mg/�00g)thanskinlesschickenmeat(+/-6�mg/�00g).

MoreovertheBBmeatcontainsonaverage5%fat,thatistosay�to3timeslessthanthemeatproducedbyotherbreeds.Itslipidcompositionischaracterizedbyagoodfattyacidsbalance;fatofsuchqualityisnotunhealthy.

The meat is very tender because of the finer fibres and lower percentage of tough connective tissue.

BelgianBluemeatsrequireabout�/3lesscookingtimethanstandardbeef.

Belgian Blues offer consumers ex-actlywhattheywant:naturallylean,tender and tasty meat, producedwith respect for the animalwellbe-ingandthefoodsafety.

Itshighnutritionalvalueisdeterminedby4mainelements:themeatisrichinhighbiologicalqualityprotein,invitaminsB3andB��,inironandzinc,bothbeingonaneasilyassimilatedform.

cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED

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cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED cHARAcTERISTIcS OF THE BREED

ZOOTEChNICAL QUALITIES

•AGEAT�STCALvING:

Female Belgian Blues are precocious andreachpubertyearlierthanthefemalesofotherbeefbreeds.Theaverageageat�stcalvingis�9-30 months. However, in many herds, theheiferscalveat�4months.Theyare therefore fed intensivelyuntil theirfirst calving.

•GESTATIONANDTWINBIRTHS:

TheBelgianBlueBreedbelongstothegroupofbreedswithrelativelyshortgestationperi-ods.Forthemalefetus,itis�8�.6daysandforthefemalefetus,�8�.6days.

Frequencyoftwinsis�.3%onaverage.

•BIRTHWEIGHT:

Thebirthweightofmalecalvesisonaverage47kg.Femalecalvesweight44kgatbirth.

•CALvINGINTERvAL:

Theaverageintervalis�4months;for75%ofcows,itrangesfrombetween��and�5months.

•A.INON-RETURNRATE:

InBelgium,approximately50%ofthecowsare bred through artificial insemination. The nonreturnrateat58daysis69.7%

•CALvINGISSUES:

Atbirth,theyoung«meaty»typecalfcanbeworthtwiceifnotthreetimesasmuchasanordinarycalf.Thevalueofa«meaty»calfissuchthat thebreedercannolonger takeanyrisksandsystematicallyoptsforaneasycalv-ingbyCaesareanSection,whichisconsideredasatechnicalchoice,therebypreventinganytractionwhatlimitstheperinatalmortality.

ComparativetestscarriedoutinvariousEuro-peancountriesonFriesians,Hereford,Aber-deenAngus...haveshownthattheproportionofassistedcalvingismoreorlessidenticaltothatobservedforotherEuropeanbreedsofbeefcattle.(Limousine,Blonded’Aquitaine...).

�0

SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS

InBelgium,selectionbasedontheanimal’sappearanceandconformationhasbeenpractisedformanyyearsandwithmuchsuccess.OurbreedershavethusdevelopedtheBrabançonandArdennesworkinghorses,thePietrainpig,theBelgianLandracepig,theBeltexsheepandofcoursetheBelgianBlueBeefcattle.Today,thegoalistokeepthesuperiormusclingwhichallowstheBelgianBluetodifferentiateitselffromotherbeefcattle,andthroughselectionmaintainingrusticity,size,posture,feetandlegs...

BelgianBluebreederscreatedtheBelgianBlueHerd-Book,whichisentrustedwiththeselec-tion,theregistryofpedigreesandthepromotionofthebreed.

InBelgium,thenumberofactiveBelgianBluebreedersisaround�.000.Thenumberofregis-teredcowsis90.000andthatofregisteredbulls�.500.Some33.500femalesand�.900malesareregisteredannuallyintheHerd-Book.

Paralleltothetraditionalselectionmethodswhichconsistsinchoosingthegoodmatingbasedon their pedigree and the classification at official competitions, a wide-range A.I. bull testing programhasbeensetup.

HERDS

REGISTRATIONSATBIRTH

Official inspections HBregistrations

Linearscoring�0-�8months

FARMSInspectionandHBregistra-

tion�0-�4monthsLinearscoring�5-56months

A.I.

PROGENYTEST

450M

PERFORMANCETESTSTATION

(�50Msuccessful)

M+F64.000

M�.000

F34.000

F35.000

F=femalesM=males

SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS

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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS

PERFORmANCE -TEST

SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS

Bullsfromtheperformance-testaretheresultofpreferen-tialmatingsbetweenA.I.orprivatebullslabelledas«bullfathers»andspecially-chosencows,mostnotablythroughtheir linear classification, and labelled as «bull mothers».

PROGENY -TEST

TheProgeny-TestinvolvestheoffspringofallA.I.sires.Results(geneticevaluations)fromthesefarm-basedprogenytestsarepublished biannually.At the farm the controls start at calving (�stvisit),andthecalvesarereexaminedat�4monthsofage(�ndvisit).The collected data reflects the following zootechnical and functional traits:

AverageperformancesattheStation.

Weight Height DailyGain

FeedEf-ficiency

value(€ /kg)

AuctionCateg. 544.55 ��0.5 �.558 4.966 3.00Admitted

returninfarms 5�5.3 ��9 �.547 5.��5 �.90

Refused 53�.7 ��9 �.56� 4.886 3.00

–�stvisit(birth):gestationlength,birthweight,conformation,possiblelegsandmouthdefects,vitality,deathrate...

–�ndvisit(�4months):weight,height,combinedindexweight-conformation,possiblelegsandmouthdefects,deathrate.

At the age of 13 months, a severe selection takes place since only 50 % of the potential candidates are accepted for public auction where breeders and A.I. stations may bid for the bulls.

Ifthesemalecalvesmeetthesanitaryrequirements,theyareallowedintotheTest-Stationwheretheyareraisedinidenticalconditionsuntiltheageof�3months.

Theyoungbullsaresubjectedtodailygain,feedconsumptionandspermatogenesisevaluations.

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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS

LINEAR SCORE

AspecialsystemoflinearscoringhasbeendevelopedbytheBelgianBlueHerd-Bookforthebreed.Thisevaluationissystematicfor all the registered cows from �5 to 56monthsofage.

The linear classification involves numeri-callyscoringofeachanimalastoitsmor-phologybasedon��traits:4forthesizeoftheanimal,9 for themuscledevelopmentand9forthebonestructureandposture.

Thelinearscoreallowsfor: •aperiodicinventoryofthemorphologicalcharacteristicsoftheherd,whetherthis concerns a specific herd or the breed as a whole; •thechoiceofbulls-mothers,withthepurposetoentermalecalvesintotheBovine Selectionstation; •theselectionoffutureembryodonorcows; • an highly specific genetic evaluation of the A.I. bulls.

Moreover,possiblelegsdefectsaretakeninaccount:deviationrear-orforelegs,fetlockrear-orforelegs,saggedknee,puffyhocks.

THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING

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SELEcTION AND TESTING PROGRAMS THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING

Theterminalcrossbreeding(crossbredanimalsintendedforthemeatproductionandnotforbreeding)ismoreandmorepopularinmanyregionsoftheworld.TheintroductionoftheEu-ropean classification system «SEUROP» is seen to be at the origin of this enthusiasm. Givenitseconomicalandmeatqualities,theBBisoftenchosenasterminalsire.Inmanycountries,trialsofcrossingbetweentheBelgianBluesireandlocalbreedcowswerecarriedout.Asageneralrule,theyrevealthesuperiorityoftheBBcrossbredcalfresultinginincreased growth, feed efficiency and above all muscle conformation.

ABelgianBluecrossonaHolsteintypedairycow, offers a marked improvement in kill-ingout(+4to5%)andincarcassmeatyield(+8%). This benefit is not accompanied by any more calvingproblem than foundwithmostotherbeefbreeds.

InaseriesoftestsperformedoncrossbredsbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture’sClayCenter(MARC)involvingthemostpopularbeefbreeds(AngusandHereford),theBel-gianBluecrossbredcarcassyieldsurpassedthecontrolsubjects[(AngusXHereford)X(AngusXHereford)]by�.7%,percentageofleanby6.7%andfatcontentlowerby7.4%.Alltold,theBelgianBluecrossesyielded3�.�kgmoremeatand�5.�kglessfat,onaverage,thanAngusXHereford.

Moreover, the survival rate, the daily gain and the feed efficiency are also better for the Belgian Blue crossbreds. Their great carcass quality justifies a better price on the market (the average added value per calf reaches 200€).

Inaddition,thewhitecolouredBelgianBluebull«marks»itsoffspring,withthesebeingen-tirely“blue”onHolsteincows.

[BBXHolsteinFrisian]inGreatBritain

[BBX(XSimmental)]inCzechRepublic

[BBXAngus]inCanada

[BBXSouthDevon]inUSA

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BreedingadairyorabeefcowtoaBelgianBlueproducesaBelgianBluecrossbredsig-nificantly better than the maternal breed: better carcassyield,leanermeat,lessfat,betterfeedconversionrate...

TheBBisalsomuchappreciatedtomellowthenervouscharacterofcertainlocalbreeds.

Taste-testinghasshownthatforsteakthereap-pearstobenoracialdifferencewithrespectto«juiciness», flavour and tenderness. In roasts, however, the Belgian Blue was more tenderthanallotherbreeds.

InBrazilandArgentina,theBBBisusedonalargescaletotenderizetheZebumeat.

THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING

[BBXJersey]inGreatBritain

[BBXZebuNelore]inBrazil

BBBXRDM RDM Diff BBBX

HOL HOL Diff BBBXJER JER Diff

Age,months. �4.4 �4.� 0.3 �4.4 �4.0 0.4 �4.3 �4.9 -0.6Carcass,kg. �83 �5� 3� �88 �44 44 �48 �89 59Score,carcassquality,EUROP 8.� 4.7 3.5 8.4 3.9 4.5 6.8 3.� 3.7

ADG,g/day 594 54� 5� 608 5�6 8� 5�4 384 �40

Someresults: •Denmark:Slaughtering,carcassqualityandADGresultsofbullsfromvariouscrossings:BBXDanishRed(RDM),BBXHolsteinandBBXJersey.Slaughteringcarriedoutbetween�999and�003.

•Italia:Fatteningresultsofcrossbredmalecalves,slaughteredattheageof4months.

HolsteinXBB HolsteinXLimousin HolsteinXItalianSimmental

FinalWeight(kg) ��0.80 ��8.�9 ��9.8�ADG(g/day) 848 774 8��Feedgainratio(g.D.M.food/gADG) �967 ���� �00�

THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSSING

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THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSS BREEDING THE BELGIAN BLUE IN cROSSING

[BBXBl.Aquitaine] [BBXLimousin]

[BBXCharolais] [BBXMontbeliard]

[BBXNormand] [BBXRedHolstein]

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STANDARD FEATURES

hEADFine-featured, well proportioned, fairly wide, flat forehead, large muffle. The head is bigger, shorterandmoremassiveinthemale.Short,horizontalhorns,atthesideinthebull,curvedforwardsfromtheforeheadinthecow.Defects: fairly unrefined, long and tapering head.

NECKThickandhorizontalinthecow;convexandroundedinthebull.

ShOULDERWellmuscled,inproportiontothesurroundingareas.Themusclestructureoftheshoulder,leg,forelegandthescapula-humeralangleareparticularlywell-developedinthebull.Defects: protruding and detached shoulders, insufficient muscle structure.

wIThERSWideandmusclularwithers,inastraightlinewiththeneckandwiththeback,atleastinthecow.Defects: narrow, insufficiently muscular withers, not properly attached to the back.

bACK AND LUmbAR REGION (KIDNEYS)Horizontal,wideandmuscular,convexridgeinthemiddleofthebackwhichcancontinuetothehindquarters(doublekidneys).Defects: saddle-back, insufficient muscle structure, kidney not properly attached, protruding backbone.

ChESTRoundedribs,thickmusclecovertotherearoftheshoulder,especiallyinthemale.Wideandmuscularchestaboveallinthebull.Thinandpliableskin,fetlocknotverydeveloped.Defects: flat, long rib, narrow chest, thick skin.

FLANKShortandfull,thefoldofthegroincontinuestowardsthefront;resultinginaverythick«extrafoldofskin»(corde).Defects:long,hollow,saggingabdominalwall.

CROUP (RUmP)Widewithdisappearinghips,long,inclined,highlydevelopedmusclestructure(double),espe-ciallyinthemale,themedianhollowbeingoccupiedbythesacrumwhichinturnisprolongedbythetail,whichisprominentlyset.Defects: too short, narrow, insufficiently muscular and inclined rump, embedded tail set.

STANDARD FEATURES

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STANDARD FEATURES STANDARD FEATURES

bUTTOCKS AND ThIGhS 1

Rounded and convex with apparent intermuscular fissures; in profile: startingoutattheischialpoint,thethighsprolongtherumptotherearinacirculararcandoverhangthehocksanditstendon;inthemale,lookedatfrontonfrombehind,thecontourfromthetopofthecroupandthebottomofthebuttockstendstohaveanarchingline.Defects: insufficient muscle structure, buttocks too short.

TAILDevelopmentinrelationwiththebonestructure,averagelength,fallsperpendicularly.Defects:tailtooshort,embeddedtailset.

bONE STRUCTURE AND STANDSSolid and fairly delicate bone structure, dry and flexible joints, healthy and tough hooves. Defects: unrefined bone structure, stiff joints which may have thickened and can even be swol-len. forelegs: • In profile, forearm, knee and cannon form a straight column. Defects:forelegstoofarforward,forelegstoofarbackward,archedknee. •Frontview,forearmandcannonformanopenanglewiththekneeatthetop. Defects:forelegsturned-infeet(openknee),forelegsturned-outfeet(knock-knee)

rearlegs: • In profile, a lowered perpendicular line from the ischial point to the top of the hock. Defects:angleofthehockstooopen(straighthocks),angleofthehockstooclosed (benthocks). •Seenfrombehind,hindlegsinparallelwiththecentreofthebody. Defects:turned-infeet(open),turned-outfeet(cow-hocked).

Pasterns: Continuesupfromthehooves,fromthecrowntotheankle;thepasternisnaturally straighterinthehindleg. Defects: pasterns too short (insufficiently inclined), too long (excessively inclined pasterns).

UDDERSquare,symmetrical,averagelywelldeveloped,wellplacedteats.Defects:droopingudder,bottle-shapedudder(goat’sudder),titssettoocloselytogether.

TESTICLESNormalsize.Defects:toosmall,swollen,absent(cryptorchidy).

1. Buttocks : region from the ischial point to the tendon which is attached to the hocks.Thigh : in relation with the femur; is limited to the front by the flank, and to the rear by the buttocks.