randiliana
Well-known member
I know this has been hashed over many times, but since we weighed a bunch of calves yesterday, and it is raining out I have time to play around with my records. Here is how BW and WW relate to each other in our herd.
I divided the calves into groups by BW, Under 75 lbs, 75-90 lbs 90-105 lbs and Over 105 lbs. I did this for the calves from each of the last 3 years.
2005
<75 lbs, avg BW 66, Avg adg 2.09 (10 head)
75-90 lbs, avg BW 82, Avg adg 2.28 (19 head)
90-105 lbs, avg BW 96, Avg adg 2.51 (44 head)
>105 lbs, avg BW 110, Avg adg 2.58 (21 head)
2006
<75 lbs, avg BW 67, Avg adg 1.99 (13 head)
75-90 lbs, avg BW 83, Avg adg 2.30 (46 head)
90-105 lbs, avg BW 96, Avg adg 2.37 (47 head)
>105 lbs, avg BW 111, Avg adg 2.51 (14 head)
2007 (and this is only preliminary as not all calves are weighed yet)
<75 lbs, avg BW 66, Avg adg 2.22 (9 head)
75-90 lbs, avg BW 83, Avg adg 2.43 (23 head)
90-105 lbs, avg BW 96, Avg adg 2.57 (27 head)
>105 lbs, avg BW 111, Avg adg 2.76 (14 head)
The average difference in ADG from the big BW to the smalll BW calves is 0.517 lbs/day. The average difference in BW is 44 lbs. On 205 days that = 150 more lbs on the big BW calves than the small BW calves.
Now, I am not saying I (or anyone else) should be trying for 110 lb calves. Just stating what the differences in this herd were. Keep in mind also that generally the 2 year old's calves had smaller BW's and the cow's calves had the larger BW's. Although there will be 2 year olds in the 90-105 lb group and cows in the <75 lb group.
I divided the calves into groups by BW, Under 75 lbs, 75-90 lbs 90-105 lbs and Over 105 lbs. I did this for the calves from each of the last 3 years.
2005
<75 lbs, avg BW 66, Avg adg 2.09 (10 head)
75-90 lbs, avg BW 82, Avg adg 2.28 (19 head)
90-105 lbs, avg BW 96, Avg adg 2.51 (44 head)
>105 lbs, avg BW 110, Avg adg 2.58 (21 head)
2006
<75 lbs, avg BW 67, Avg adg 1.99 (13 head)
75-90 lbs, avg BW 83, Avg adg 2.30 (46 head)
90-105 lbs, avg BW 96, Avg adg 2.37 (47 head)
>105 lbs, avg BW 111, Avg adg 2.51 (14 head)
2007 (and this is only preliminary as not all calves are weighed yet)
<75 lbs, avg BW 66, Avg adg 2.22 (9 head)
75-90 lbs, avg BW 83, Avg adg 2.43 (23 head)
90-105 lbs, avg BW 96, Avg adg 2.57 (27 head)
>105 lbs, avg BW 111, Avg adg 2.76 (14 head)
The average difference in ADG from the big BW to the smalll BW calves is 0.517 lbs/day. The average difference in BW is 44 lbs. On 205 days that = 150 more lbs on the big BW calves than the small BW calves.
Now, I am not saying I (or anyone else) should be trying for 110 lb calves. Just stating what the differences in this herd were. Keep in mind also that generally the 2 year old's calves had smaller BW's and the cow's calves had the larger BW's. Although there will be 2 year olds in the 90-105 lb group and cows in the <75 lb group.