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<blockquote data-quote="Nesikep" data-source="post: 1108464" data-attributes="member: 9096"><p>I'm in the slow process of reducing the size of my mature cows to about 1500 max, with 1300 as about right for us. The one cow that I had (the one that had a stroke this time last year, about 1500 lbs), her first calf was a nice 80 lb heifer that she weaned off at 700 lbs, and from there on in she went for BW records, first with a 140 lb bull calf, then a 120 lb heifer (Mega), and 2 more 140lb bull calves. All unassisted, and the one that I got to witness she plopped out 2 minutes after she really got down to business. Her daughter seems to have slightly more sane BW, though her first bull was 110 lb and was lightly assisted (just hands, no chains), her second, a heifer, was 90 lbs... She's probably around 1300 lbs now at 4 years old.</p><p></p><p>Last year my monster (probably 1900 lbs) had twins.. And I didn't suspect it, the first was 110 lbs, and the next day she wasn't doing well so I checked inside and there was another 110 lb'er in there as a breech birth.. got it straightened and pulled out, but it was dead.. at least she was fine after that. Her full sister (she's the same size) had twins the year before and they were 65 and 75 lbs.</p><p></p><p>Though I don't have nearly a big enough herd to get definitive data from, I find that the calves with a higher BW tend to have higher ADG as well. If I look at all the calves born above 110 lbs in 2012, including from heifers, the ADG was about 2.7 average... if I take all the calves less than 110 lb BW, the average is 2.5 ADG. So that's close to a quarter pound a day difference. My numbers are VERY close to Randiliana's numbers. I will say that all the cows that had the big calves are all good cows, while I have a bunch in the other group that will grow wheels as soon as I have better up-and-comers. </p><p></p><p>Using Randi's numbers, the 110+ group had a half pound a day better gain than the 60-70lb group, and don't forget the 50 lb advantage to add to it. </p><p>It is true that a small live calf is always worth more than a big dead one, but it's no use going out of your way to have small calves if your cows can handle a bigger one.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nesikep, post: 1108464, member: 9096"] I'm in the slow process of reducing the size of my mature cows to about 1500 max, with 1300 as about right for us. The one cow that I had (the one that had a stroke this time last year, about 1500 lbs), her first calf was a nice 80 lb heifer that she weaned off at 700 lbs, and from there on in she went for BW records, first with a 140 lb bull calf, then a 120 lb heifer (Mega), and 2 more 140lb bull calves. All unassisted, and the one that I got to witness she plopped out 2 minutes after she really got down to business. Her daughter seems to have slightly more sane BW, though her first bull was 110 lb and was lightly assisted (just hands, no chains), her second, a heifer, was 90 lbs... She's probably around 1300 lbs now at 4 years old. Last year my monster (probably 1900 lbs) had twins.. And I didn't suspect it, the first was 110 lbs, and the next day she wasn't doing well so I checked inside and there was another 110 lb'er in there as a breech birth.. got it straightened and pulled out, but it was dead.. at least she was fine after that. Her full sister (she's the same size) had twins the year before and they were 65 and 75 lbs. Though I don't have nearly a big enough herd to get definitive data from, I find that the calves with a higher BW tend to have higher ADG as well. If I look at all the calves born above 110 lbs in 2012, including from heifers, the ADG was about 2.7 average... if I take all the calves less than 110 lb BW, the average is 2.5 ADG. So that's close to a quarter pound a day difference. My numbers are VERY close to Randiliana's numbers. I will say that all the cows that had the big calves are all good cows, while I have a bunch in the other group that will grow wheels as soon as I have better up-and-comers. Using Randi's numbers, the 110+ group had a half pound a day better gain than the 60-70lb group, and don't forget the 50 lb advantage to add to it. It is true that a small live calf is always worth more than a big dead one, but it's no use going out of your way to have small calves if your cows can handle a bigger one. [/QUOTE]
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