Many of the grass-developed, 16-month-old bulls we evaluated in Colorado last week had happy lines. Happy lines are horizontal lines on the ribs of the animal. They are believed to be deposits of volatile fatty acids just beneath the skin.
Happy lines are indicative of a very healthy animal that is environmentally and nutritionally adapted. They are also indicative of an animal with a well-balanced and functional endocrine system. You will only find happy lines on calm and contented animals.
You will seldom see happy lines on high-input, status quo animals – and you will never see them on animals that are on a corn diet. Although happy lines have been around forever – and astute cattlemen have paid attention to them for centuries, most of today’s status quo beef producers have no idea what a happy line is.
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