WHICH Barn Door?

[HerefordSire]

You guys beat this to death,but whats most important is profit per acre not lbs per acre.It's going to depend on your management,marketing,and natural resources as to what type of cattle are most profitable for you.

Another thing to consider....there could be a correlation of size/weight to something unheard of...like longevity or fertility that is hidden and doesn't show up easily. Profit may be higher with larger cattle.

[EAT BEEF]

You guys beat this to death,but whats most important is profit per acre not lbs per acre.It's going to depend on your management,marketing,and natural resources as to what type of cattle are most profitable for you.

Another thing to consider....there could be a correlation of size/weight to something unheard of...like longevity or fertility that is hidden and doesn't show up easily. Profit may be higher with larger cattle.

It might be for some,and thats for each to figure out and manage for himself

[HerefordSire]

It might be for some,and thats for each to figure out and manage for himself

The ones that are left standing are likely the ones that are making the frogskins. You sound like a conservative.

[Brandonm22]

All I know is that my Grandfather's oldest straightbred commercial Hereford dinks were a lot longer lasting (some past 20 years) than anything we have ever had since. Weight takes a toll. Whether it is a cow, an old person, or an athlete. They have to carry it (weight) around, support it, feed it, cool it. Old broken down cull cows weren't always old and broken down. Something (ie time, nutritional stress, etc) broke her down. A smaller cow has to eat less to meet her needs, consumes less, has less mass too cool in the hot summers, is carring less weight on her hocks, knees, hips, and other joints, has less weight on her topline, less weight on the mammary ligament, generally gives birth to a smaller calf. Longhorns are generally considered the cows with the most longevity. They are also usually the lightest weight cows. I don't have any University research too back up my position but I would bet that if all else is equal longevity decreases as you increase cow size (particualy above 1600 lbs).

[HerefordSire]

The market is a very efficient mechanism combining supply and demand. This could be different than the most efficient cattle. Therefore, the most profitable cattle could be the least efficient cattle.

[EAT BEEF]

Depends on the price of feed and labor.

If I have a ranch that will run a 100 1000lb cows,maybe someday I can get one 100,000lb cow.Sure it will present some challenges,but I'm sure the profit will overcome them.

[RD-Sam]

Depends on the price of feed and labor.

If I have a ranch that will run a 100 1000lb cows,maybe someday I can get one 100,000lb cow.Sure it will present some challenges,but I'm sure the profit will overcome them.

Sure would be a lot easier to take care of one cow.

[EAT BEEF]

Depends on the price of feed and labor.

If I have a ranch that will run a 100 1000lb cows,maybe someday I can get one 100,000lb cow.Sure it will present some challenges,but I'm sure the profit will overcome them.

Sure would be a lot easier to take care of one cow.

Yes but hard to transport.

[RD-Sam]

I'm wondering what the AI device might look like?

[dun]

I'm wondering what the AI device might look like?

You would probably drive your truck in and walk through the cervix and deposit a 55gal drum of semen

[ANAZAZI]

I agree with the pounds per acre produced. Just way to many test have been done to argue the theory. Having said this then the question arises about how these calves, from smaller cows, will perform in the feed lot. Will these calves be able to keep up with the calves produced from the larger cow? It sees as though the ones from the larger cows have the potential to out grow the ones from the lighter cows thus making them more profitable in the lot.

The calves from big cows can outgrow the calves from lesser cows without being more profitable.
The costs to produce a certain amount of beef is roughly the same for big and small cattle.

[ANAZAZI]

A cow should have an optimum size. The smallest cow that is usually able to produce offspring that is big enough to finish at an accetable weight.
To be on the safe side it is possible to use terminal sires of higher frame scores than the cows. This use is the only justification to breed really big breeds.

In another time in another place where an acceptable carcass needs to weigh twice as much, it would be well adiviced to promote the breeding of really big cows.
Note therefore tha there is no general "truth" what cow size is the best, merely that small cows tend to be more efficient.
And note that the most important reason to not making cows too small is that the end product can be too small for the market.

My preference is cow weights of 1100 to1300 lbs; because this cow size makes both bulls and heifers big enough for the market here, even when bred to bulls of the same frame score.

[novatech]

I agree with the pounds per acre produced. Just way to many test have been done to argue the theory. Having said this then the question arises about how these calves, from smaller cows, will perform in the feed lot. Will these calves be able to keep up with the calves produced from the larger cow? It sees as though the ones from the larger cows have the potential to out grow the ones from the lighter cows thus making them more profitable in the lot.

The calves from big cows can outgrow the calves from lesser cows without being more profitable.
The costs to produce a certain amount of beef is roughly the same for big and small cattle.

A calf that is 50% the size of the dam at weaning obviously had a good conversion ratio until that time or you may say it was early maturing. A calf born from a larger cow may just be later maturing and go through it's growth spurt while in the feed lot, thus having more feed efficiency at that time. The calf from the smaller cow could have less potential for the faster growth once it enters the feed lot. It can become confusing to say the least.
What I really beleive is that the cow size and weaning weight of the calf is pretty well limited to the cow calf operation. Once the calf is weaned and goes to the lot it becomes a matter of genetics as far a feed efficiency and pounds per day weight gain.

[ANAZAZI]

True. I am pointing towards the fact that four "moderate" bulls grows as much as three "big" bulls;
and that four "moderate" bulls eat as much as three "big" bulls.

[Brandonm22]

What I really beleive is that the cow size and weaning weight of the calf is pretty well limited to the cow calf operation. Once the calf is weaned and goes to the lot it becomes a matter of genetics as far a feed efficiency and pounds per day weight gain.

Exactly, producing a calf as cheaply as possible and getting as much for him at weaning as you can get are cow calf operation traits. At the feedlot, they want postweaning gain, feed efficiency, leanness, and marbling.