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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 17264"><p>I've been waiting from someone with your experience to bring up the topic of small cows because I have questions -</p><p></p><p>I also live in SW Mo and try to keep cow size down due to forage concerns. [I have Hereford and Hereford/Angus cross.] I know you probably focus on grade in the calves you sell, but coming from small cows, how well do calves do in the yield dept. at slaughter compared to other Angus or Herefords? Do you compensate for small genetics of cow with a high-growth bull?</p><p></p><p>I'm assuming you kept cows small by selecting breeding stock with smaller genetics. If so, how do you find them this small? Are they crossbreeds or pure? The cows I have that are ~10-years old are from small old-line Hereford (plus a little Jersey from way back) and weight 1200# or less. I've kept many heifers from these good-old cows (using low-BW Angus bulls), but I think due to better genetics in the bull, or hybrid-vigor, their calves are turning out to be 1400+ lb cows. [Sold a few last week so I know the weights.] Then I have bought several that were going thru the Show-me heifer replacement program, and they have grown to >1500#. I'm guessing on these, but they look huge compared to old cows! The big cows wean the same size calf, but seem to eat twice as much. But I've wondered if calves from these bigger cows are likely to have better yield at slaughter.</p><p></p><p>How does feeding of the heifers affect the final cow size? The show-me heifers I bought were mostly angus, but were big when I bought them. The seller said they were on "supplement" so I wonder if this grew them out. Now it seems that it is costing a lot in hay to sustain their size. They don't keep condition in winter as well either.</p><p></p><p>Then how does age of breeding affect final cow size? On the heifers I keep from old-cows, I've been waiting till 18-months to breed. I knew I was losing income by keeping them open longer, but I wonder if it's costing me in the long-run because it makes for a bigger cow.</p><p></p><p>Is there any efficiency data out there maybe based on breed of cow and cow-size? I've argued with others that small cows make more money on forages like fescue, but need some data.</p><p></p><p>Thanks, Jerry</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 17264"] I’ve been waiting from someone with your experience to bring up the topic of small cows because I have questions - I also live in SW Mo and try to keep cow size down due to forage concerns. [I have Hereford and Hereford/Angus cross.] I know you probably focus on grade in the calves you sell, but coming from small cows, how well do calves do in the yield dept. at slaughter compared to other Angus or Herefords? Do you compensate for small genetics of cow with a high-growth bull? I’m assuming you kept cows small by selecting breeding stock with smaller genetics. If so, how do you find them this small? Are they crossbreeds or pure? The cows I have that are ~10-years old are from small old-line Hereford (plus a little Jersey from way back) and weight 1200# or less. I’ve kept many heifers from these good-old cows (using low-BW Angus bulls), but I think due to better genetics in the bull, or hybrid-vigor, their calves are turning out to be 1400+ lb cows. [Sold a few last week so I know the weights.] Then I have bought several that were going thru the Show-me heifer replacement program, and they have grown to >1500#. I’m guessing on these, but they look huge compared to old cows! The big cows wean the same size calf, but seem to eat twice as much. But I’ve wondered if calves from these bigger cows are likely to have better yield at slaughter. How does feeding of the heifers affect the final cow size? The show-me heifers I bought were mostly angus, but were big when I bought them. The seller said they were on “supplement” so I wonder if this grew them out. Now it seems that it is costing a lot in hay to sustain their size. They don't keep condition in winter as well either. Then how does age of breeding affect final cow size? On the heifers I keep from old-cows, I’ve been waiting till 18-months to breed. I knew I was losing income by keeping them open longer, but I wonder if it’s costing me in the long-run because it makes for a bigger cow. Is there any efficiency data out there maybe based on breed of cow and cow-size? I’ve argued with others that small cows make more money on forages like fescue, but need some data. Thanks, Jerry [/QUOTE]
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