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Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
Cow size vs. efficiency
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<blockquote data-quote="Mossy Dell" data-source="post: 1388475" data-attributes="member: 24261"><p>Thanks for the link, HDRider. I think the answer would depend on one's environment. In the Manzano chart, the top cow weighed 1,510 and weaned a 680 lb. calf, 45 % of her body weight. The smallest cow of the top four weighed 1,110 and weaned a 610 lb. calf, 55 percent of her body weight.</p><p></p><p>Manzano's argument is you can run more smaller cows, which have lower maintenance/hay costs. You take a hit on each calf, but you have more weight to sell, in total, and come out at least slightly ahead. Plus your winter feed bill/hay need is much less. End result = less cash outlay and more net dollars in your pocket.</p><p></p><p>That's their theory anyway. It seems to me that forage quality and hay costs are key variables to look at, which may justify bigger cows. But also pregnancy rate and stayability must be factored, among whatever else I can't think of.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mossy Dell, post: 1388475, member: 24261"] Thanks for the link, HDRider. I think the answer would depend on one's environment. In the Manzano chart, the top cow weighed 1,510 and weaned a 680 lb. calf, 45 % of her body weight. The smallest cow of the top four weighed 1,110 and weaned a 610 lb. calf, 55 percent of her body weight. Manzano's argument is you can run more smaller cows, which have lower maintenance/hay costs. You take a hit on each calf, but you have more weight to sell, in total, and come out at least slightly ahead. Plus your winter feed bill/hay need is much less. End result = less cash outlay and more net dollars in your pocket. That's their theory anyway. It seems to me that forage quality and hay costs are key variables to look at, which may justify bigger cows. But also pregnancy rate and stayability must be factored, among whatever else I can't think of. [/QUOTE]
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Cow size vs. efficiency
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