Official AMZA Breed Standard Cows

Conformation

Body parts should be in proportion relative to size; length of leg should be in relation to length, depth and width. Should not appear to be a dwarf, nor should it appear to be excessively leggy. Should have moderate refinement of bone, not heavy boned or thin boned. Cows should appear refined and feminine, angular and athletic. Cows should have adequate muscling, not being fat or thin.

Breed character

Refined but feminine, angular, never square or boxy. Athletic and fluid in movement. No appearance of Bos Taurus influence.

Color

All colors and patterns are acceptable.

Hair Coat

Short, straight, dense and slick, never curly or excessive in length.

Size

Measured at the hip. Height not to exceed 42 with no minimum.

Weight

Ideal weight of mature cows is 300 to 600 pounds.

Head

Coffin shaped skull, moderate of width and length, feminine in appearance. Not too wide or short. A chiseled appearance, with a convex profile, never dished. Eyes should be smoothly set into the skull, not protruding or bug eyed. Eyes should be almond shaped. Eyes and profile should be almost Egyptian in appearance. Mouth should be free of excess fleshing, clean and tight.

Ears

Moderate in length, leaf shaped with a pointed end, never round, not too long or too short, balanced in size in relation to the head, never pendulous or drooping. Ears should be held outwards or slightly upwards and not too forward. Ideal ear size is less than 9 inches long.

Horns

Balanced and symmetrical, any horn pattern is acceptable as well as naturally polled or dehorned. Dehorned cows should be free of unsightly horn scurs.

Neck

Feminine, moderately long, strong, set high into the shoulder and withers with an upstanding appearance, never short or low set.

Dewlap

Moderate development, not too long nor too short, free of excessive fleshiness or folds.

Brisket

Smoothly laid into the chest floor, free of excessive fat, never bulging or protruding excessively.

Hump

Moderate to well developed, pronounced and balanced. Upright and firm, never leaning either left nor right, placed directly above or slightly ahead of the withers.

Body

Cow should have moderate body length, not too long or too short, deep in the heart girth with a slight increase in depth of body from the heart girth into the rear barrel and flank. Ribs should be well sprung and deep, never thin or slab sided with adequate body capacity, proportions relative to the size of the animal.

Topline

Back should be straight and level in the chine and loin with a natural slope to the rump from hip to pin bones. Rump should be sloping with a smooth, round appearance.

Hindquarters

Round and full, muscular but not meaty with moderate width in the pin bones. Moderate width in the escutcheon carrying down through the hocks.

Tail

Smoothly set and high at the rump, long and slender lacking kinks or crooks. Switch should be long and full, hanging below the hocks.

Legs and feet

Medium length legs in proportion and relative to body size, not too long nor too short, strong and straight with short, strong pasterns. Rear legs should be angular with incurving thighs when viewed from the side. Hooves should be strong and hard with equal halves and a moderate cleft between hooves.

Mammary System

Medium in size, capacious, with balance and proportion. Well attached with smooth fore and rear udder blending. Balanced and even udder quarters with 4 medium size teats.

This document is under revision. It is September 1, 2011 DRAFT.