Abstract: A system (20) for measuring relative front (12, 13) and hind leg (16, 17) positions of a standing ungulate, the system including a sensing area within which an ungulate to be measured stands and which comprises a plurality of discrete linear sensor regions (30) spaced a known distance apart within the sensing area, each sensing region having a sensor operatively associated therewith, which sensor is responsive to the presence of the lower part of a leg within a sensing region and; a processor for receiving data from each sensor, identifying those sensor regions within which a lower part of a leg is present and based upon the distance between the identified sensor regions, determining the relative front and hind leg positions.

Abstract: A system (20) for measuring relative front (12, 13) and hind leg (16, 17) positions of a standing ungulate, the system including a sensing area within which an ungulate to be measured stands and which comprises a plurality of discrete linear sensor regions (30) spaced a known distance apart within the sensing area, each sensing region having a sensor operatively associated therewith, which sensor is responsive to the presence of the lower part of a leg within a sensing region and; a processor for receiving data from each sensor, identifying those sensor regions within which a lower part of a leg is present and based upon the distance between the identified sensor regions, determining the relative front and hind leg positions.

Abstract: A method for assessing whether an animal has a total body fat or protein composition falling within a desired range, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a range of animal weight and a value selected from the group comprising pelvic height, frame score and animal size, such that animals having a weight and value within said range will have a total body fat or protein corresponding to the desired total body fat or protein, (b) measuring the pelvic height of said animal and if said value is frame score, further obtaining the age of the animal and calculating the frame score and where said value is animal size, further measuring the length of the animal and estimating the volume from the height and length measurements, (c) obtaining the weight of said animal and (d) comparing the value obtained in step (b) and the weight obtained in step (c) with the values obtained in step (a) and determining whether said obtained weight and value (c) and (d) fall within the range obtained in step (a) and if the ob