RMweb Gold wenlock Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Hi all I need some cows to put in my layout's http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1131-wenlocks-blog/ cattle dock. I picked up these rather nice castings from Duncan models at a show recently. Now I've assembled them and put them next to some figures they look a bit on the large size to me. They are supposed to be 7mm scale and are 35mm tall to the shoulder and 60mm from nose to tail. Scaled up this works out as a cow that's 5 foot to the shoulder tall and about 8 foot 6 inches from nose to tail. A search on the web provides lots of information about cows weight, but nothing much on the size of prototype cattle! Here are a couple of pics of the beasts in question! I'd appreciate any advice regarding the size of these animals, before I spend time painting them. Thanks in anticipation Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Obviously not all breeds are the same but here's some information on Jerseys. https://heritagejersey.org/measuring.aspx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Firstly, I would say that it depends on the breed you are trying to represent. Secondly, I certainly don't remember bending down to pat a cow! So it looks to me (next to your figures) that they are about right, but are you going to place them next to people, or on their own in a field? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Those look spot on....there are some in the field next to the house I'm in and they wander towards me when I emerge, so I had a look. Painting.......the "weathering" around the rear and under the tails is very noticeable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivegreen Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Firstly, I would say that it depends on the breed you are trying to represent. Secondly, I certainly don't remember bending down to pat a cow! So it looks to me (next to your figures) they are about right. Agree. If Highland cattle, they are probably a bit tall (or your men are short!). If Jerseys, they are too buxom (Jerseys have a rather emaciated look) OOps … edited to add 'otherwise seem OK to me'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 I know i shouldn't but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFTgkibl7DU Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Average cow heights seem to be quoted as 4.5 - 5ft at the shoulder, so probably not far out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Worsdell forever Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 They look ok, a bit stocky for a dairy breed though, about right for beef, those legs look a bit thick and those club feet need the attention of a vet... (never seen club feet on cattle before...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Depends how close to them you are Dougal... They look about right to me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted October 12, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Thanks guys, some "interesting" responses there! Father Dougal always makes me smile! The models are supposed to represent British Shorthorn cattle, as my layout is set circa 1905, whether cows were bigger or smaller 110 years ago is also something I know nothing about! Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Don't forget that the average height of men has increased from 5' 6" to 5' 10" in the past 100 years. Dairy shorthorn cattle average about 4' 7" high at the shoulder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Thanks guys, some "interesting" responses there! Father Dougal always makes me smile! The models are supposed to represent British Shorthorn cattle, as my layout is set circa 1905, whether cows were bigger or smaller 110 years ago is also something I know nothing about! Dave Are they cows or bulls Dave? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted October 12, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Are they cows or bulls Dave? Hi Mike, they have fairly impressive udders so we are definitely talking cows. I guess if they do turn out to be too big, with a little judicious surgery I could turn them into bulls! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Had you thought of checking the breed society webpages (there's a website for more or less everything out there)? http://www.shorthorn.co.uk/dairyshorthorn/ On average, I believe that cattle - especially some breeds of beef cattle were a bit smaller but I reckon those castings are about right, though I wonder about having them as fixtures in a cattle dock. My reckoning is that they would be unlikely to hang around in one for all that long. Better off in a field perhaps? Adam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Like Adam it tooks me a couple of Googles to answer this, for Shorthorns and many other breeds. The models may be a bit tall for shorthorn, but there were plenty of very large ox in the past, the walls of the halls of residence at Rothamsted Experimental station were lined with paintings of huge animals from the 18 and 19C. I am not an animal biologist but I suspect it is unlikely that a cow in milk would be transhipped on the railways, except if it was a full farm move. They would have been dried off. I don't think there would have been any problem in full grown older animals being sent, there were not the age limits on slaughter for human consumption that we have had in recent years because of BSE. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted October 12, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Had you thought of checking the breed society webpages (there's a website for more or less everything out there)? http://www.shorthorn.co.uk/dairyshorthorn/ On average, I believe that cattle - especially some breeds of beef cattle were a bit smaller but I reckon those castings are about right, though I wonder about having them as fixtures in a cattle dock. My reckoning is that they would be unlikely to hang around in one for all that long. Better off in a field perhaps? Adam Hi Adam, yes I had a trawl through the net and found loads of information. I now know their average weight, milk yield, colouring and temperament, but still don't know exactly how tall or long they are! I suppose I could put them in a field, but I still quite like the idea of putting them in the cattle dock and using the excuse that everyday is market day in Sherton Abbas :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 What a great thread and good answers. We currenlty have cows outside - they usually arrive around midmornng to snack on the shrubs around our boundary! Two pictures I took this morning - these are just around one year old so still have some growing to do. Two observations - modern cows wear yellow ear tags and look to have been de-horned. Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold wenlock Posted October 12, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 What a great thread and good answers. We currenlty have cows outside - they usually arrive around midmornng to snack on the shrubs around our boundary! Two pictures I took this morning - these are just around one year old so still have some growing to do. Two observations - modern cows wear yellow ear tags and look to have been de-horned. Regards Ray That's a truly splendid view you have from your house Ray, those hills look delightful! Next time the cows pop round for a mid morning munch on your shrubbery, I'd be thrilled if you could pop out and sneak behind one with a tape measure! :-) Best wishes Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Hi Mike, they have fairly impressive udders so we are definitely talking cows. DCC Sound? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 and if these are standard breeze blocks, these cows are about 4'6" tall. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 I know i shouldn't but Beat me to it. lol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivegreen Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 This is getting surreal (for a model railway site) …but fascinating! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonman Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 and if these are standard breeze blocks, these cows are about 4'6" tall. Those cows are bullocks... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium The White Rabbit Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2015 I (or my camera?) seem to have a certain fascination for cows. And horses, but that's another thread! Most fully grown specimens I've come across vary from about four to six feet tall, with Friesians and Holsteins being two of the larger breeds - some of them can look me in the eye - and Jerseys & Dexters two of the smaller breeds I'm familiar with. These three photos are from Corfe Castle, a mixture of cows & heifers, with a train thrown in for perspective & scale... From memory, the [very inquisitive] youngster standing was about 3'6" tall across its back, maybe 4' when it held its head up. The adults I think were about five feet - at one point I thought I wasn't going to get any frames of the Swanage trains as the cows were angling for a taste of my sandwiches & were between me & the line. And two youngsters (back to bullocks!) - I think those fence posts are about 3'6" high. Horns, from what I've been told, mostly disappeared in the 40s & 50s, but are having something of a comeback in the last 20 years. They are a good place to grab an animal but can be a devastating weapon if the animal is disturbed, intent on mischief or a bully to its fellows. If you model a bull in one of the larger scales, don't forget a nosering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2015 Those cows are bullocks... They're not that bad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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