twabscs
Well-known member
Hi All,
I'm starting my fifth year of raising cattle (cow/calf) and now have two farms that are 37 miles apart. The purpose of my post is get some opinions on an interesting observation. I've had one farm five years, and the other one approaching two years. For each of the past two years, it's very clear that one farm produces calves that are 50-75 pounds heavier than the other. Both farms have similar pasture makeups which is typical NW Missouri grass. Mostly fescue and some orchard grass with lots of clover. The last two years have been great for clover and most fields were 50% clover both years.
I know that fertility would make some difference (and I need to get the pastures checked), but I have a year-round mineral program, and the pastures on both farms have been very "lush" both of the last two years because of excess rain. Calves are from the same bulls and the momma cows have spent time at both farms as well.
Does this make sense? Common? Just a difference in the underlying ground? I thought it was the genetics that made a difference.
Thanks,
Tom
I'm starting my fifth year of raising cattle (cow/calf) and now have two farms that are 37 miles apart. The purpose of my post is get some opinions on an interesting observation. I've had one farm five years, and the other one approaching two years. For each of the past two years, it's very clear that one farm produces calves that are 50-75 pounds heavier than the other. Both farms have similar pasture makeups which is typical NW Missouri grass. Mostly fescue and some orchard grass with lots of clover. The last two years have been great for clover and most fields were 50% clover both years.
I know that fertility would make some difference (and I need to get the pastures checked), but I have a year-round mineral program, and the pastures on both farms have been very "lush" both of the last two years because of excess rain. Calves are from the same bulls and the momma cows have spent time at both farms as well.
Does this make sense? Common? Just a difference in the underlying ground? I thought it was the genetics that made a difference.
Thanks,
Tom