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cow calf profitability - cow size
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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 634130" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>I'm don't usually watch much TV but had it on tonight ahead of the President's speech and happened to see "the cattle show" on RFD TV.</p><p></p><p>The speaker was talking about a study done by North Dakota State Univ which split a herd into two groups, one with an average cow weight of 1200 lb, another group with an average wt of 1500 lb.</p><p></p><p>They went on to say that the weaning wt of the calves from both groups was the same!</p><p></p><p>The NDSU study also showed that the 1200 lb group consumed on average 1600 lb less dry matter per year than the 1500 lb group in raising those calves.</p><p></p><p>The show also talked about the down side to cows with TOO MUCH milk rather than too little....several reasons. Cows with too much milk consume more feed, raise a big calf but often don't get bred back in time, calves can't use it all, etc. I actually had one this past year that was a big cow (first calf heifer), lots of milk, big calf, but came up open preg check time in Nov!</p><p></p><p>I don't want to recap the whole show but the 4 main points to cow/calf profitability were:</p><p></p><p>1) moderate cow size (<1300 lb)</p><p></p><p>2) select cows with "optimum" milk production </p><p></p><p>3) synchronize calving season with forage production - calve 30 days ahead of "green-up" in the spring</p><p></p><p>4) supplement with mineral</p><p></p><p>In a drought year, the smaller cows weaned calves that were heavier than the big cows because short pastures were less of a drag on the smaller cows who didn't need as much...</p><p></p><p>Cows need to wean a 205 day calf that is 50% of their weight. The smaller cows has abetter chance of that than the larger cow.</p><p></p><p>What I thought was most noteworthy is the fact the 1200 lb cows and the 1500 lb cows in this university study weaned calves that were the same wts (group averages).</p><p></p><p>I know its been discussed here before but this was about the clearest explanation I have heard so far.</p><p></p><p>Anyone else here see this tonight?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 634130, member: 7509"] I'm don't usually watch much TV but had it on tonight ahead of the President's speech and happened to see "the cattle show" on RFD TV. The speaker was talking about a study done by North Dakota State Univ which split a herd into two groups, one with an average cow weight of 1200 lb, another group with an average wt of 1500 lb. They went on to say that the weaning wt of the calves from both groups was the same! The NDSU study also showed that the 1200 lb group consumed on average 1600 lb less dry matter per year than the 1500 lb group in raising those calves. The show also talked about the down side to cows with TOO MUCH milk rather than too little....several reasons. Cows with too much milk consume more feed, raise a big calf but often don't get bred back in time, calves can't use it all, etc. I actually had one this past year that was a big cow (first calf heifer), lots of milk, big calf, but came up open preg check time in Nov! I don't want to recap the whole show but the 4 main points to cow/calf profitability were: 1) moderate cow size (<1300 lb) 2) select cows with "optimum" milk production 3) synchronize calving season with forage production - calve 30 days ahead of "green-up" in the spring 4) supplement with mineral In a drought year, the smaller cows weaned calves that were heavier than the big cows because short pastures were less of a drag on the smaller cows who didn't need as much... Cows need to wean a 205 day calf that is 50% of their weight. The smaller cows has abetter chance of that than the larger cow. What I thought was most noteworthy is the fact the 1200 lb cows and the 1500 lb cows in this university study weaned calves that were the same wts (group averages). I know its been discussed here before but this was about the clearest explanation I have heard so far. Anyone else here see this tonight? [/QUOTE]
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