Evaluation of flight time and crush score as measures of temperament in Angus cattle

Data from four hundred and seventy-eight mixed sex Angus weaners of known pedigree were used to examine the relationship between two measures of temperament, visual crush score and electronically measured flight time. Weaners were measured in four Angus seedstock herds in NSW. At each property animals were assessed for both crush score and flight time on two separate occasions (on average 73 days apart) with temperament being measured twice on each occasion. A significant relationship bet ween crush score and flight time existed both within and across measurement time. The results showed significant differences in both flight time and crush score between herds, but the repeatability of the traits was high, ranging from 58 to 65% within a measurement time and 31 and 44% across measurement times. Both traits were lowly heritable but all estimates had large standard errors. The study has shown both traits could be used as measures of temperament in Angus cattle and may able to be changed by selection.