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Do your cows eat GRASS??
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<blockquote data-quote="KMacGinley" data-source="post: 328190" data-attributes="member: 3175"><p>My thoughts on this issue are as follows:</p><p></p><p> I have some 7+ frame cows that literally weigh 1800 lbs or more. These are large Hoff bred cows. My calves averaged 653 lbs adj. weaning weights for heifers and 723lbs bulls on AHIR.</p><p></p><p> I also have some 5 frame cows with Nichols breeding. These weigh in the neighborhood of 1300-1400 lbs. </p><p></p><p> These calves weigh about the same at weaning. Of course there is a difference at yearling.</p><p></p><p> What about the cow maintenance costs? Does anybody want to tell me that they are the same? Or as someone on the other thread asserted that larger framed animals are more efficient on forages? </p><p></p><p> I don't believe that larger framed animals are ever more efficient to maintain, too much goes into taking care of the larger body mass. </p><p></p><p> Now, when corn is 1.50 a bushel, this doesn't matter that much, especially here where there is corn as far as the eye can see. </p><p></p><p> But, mark my word, we are at a turning point. Simmental, Charolais, Chi's, most angus and herefords and shorthorns are going to take a hit. Cattle are going to have to do it on forage or they won't do it at all. I am retaining 5 frame or less bulls to breed and AI ing to smaller framed bulls when I can find them. </p><p></p><p> If I keep those 8 frame cows, I would have to breed to a 2 frame bull or a lowline, to get where I want to go. </p><p></p><p> This also coincides with consumer concerns about portion size on steaks. Epds for RE area have always puzzled me, since Consumers want smaller ones and the bulls being pushed seemed to advertise larger ones. (Also the high RE bulls look like lightmuscled holsteins to me. Funnelbutts)</p><p></p><p> The calf of the future will need to utilize forage for the majority of its life, and be finished with a short period of feeding or not at all. 13-14 month old fat cattle will be a thing of the past, with the majority approaching two years of age.</p><p></p><p> Is this a problem? Maybe in the short term, trading time for gigantic feed expense., After the first year of slower forage development it would just be a different way of doing things.</p><p></p><p> Carcass epds could become interesting as well. It is all predicated on a corn high energy system. I wonder if the current high marbling cattle will have such "high epds" on forage? I would guess not. </p><p></p><p> In short, I think we are heading for the 20s the time before industrial agriculture made corn so plentiful, it won't be plentiful for us, so we will have to breed cattle that don't have to have the feed. 3,4,or 5 frame cattle, that can fatten on forages.</p><p></p><p> These are my thoughts, for what it is worth <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="KMacGinley, post: 328190, member: 3175"] My thoughts on this issue are as follows: I have some 7+ frame cows that literally weigh 1800 lbs or more. These are large Hoff bred cows. My calves averaged 653 lbs adj. weaning weights for heifers and 723lbs bulls on AHIR. I also have some 5 frame cows with Nichols breeding. These weigh in the neighborhood of 1300-1400 lbs. These calves weigh about the same at weaning. Of course there is a difference at yearling. What about the cow maintenance costs? Does anybody want to tell me that they are the same? Or as someone on the other thread asserted that larger framed animals are more efficient on forages? I don't believe that larger framed animals are ever more efficient to maintain, too much goes into taking care of the larger body mass. Now, when corn is 1.50 a bushel, this doesn't matter that much, especially here where there is corn as far as the eye can see. But, mark my word, we are at a turning point. Simmental, Charolais, Chi's, most angus and herefords and shorthorns are going to take a hit. Cattle are going to have to do it on forage or they won't do it at all. I am retaining 5 frame or less bulls to breed and AI ing to smaller framed bulls when I can find them. If I keep those 8 frame cows, I would have to breed to a 2 frame bull or a lowline, to get where I want to go. This also coincides with consumer concerns about portion size on steaks. Epds for RE area have always puzzled me, since Consumers want smaller ones and the bulls being pushed seemed to advertise larger ones. (Also the high RE bulls look like lightmuscled holsteins to me. Funnelbutts) The calf of the future will need to utilize forage for the majority of its life, and be finished with a short period of feeding or not at all. 13-14 month old fat cattle will be a thing of the past, with the majority approaching two years of age. Is this a problem? Maybe in the short term, trading time for gigantic feed expense., After the first year of slower forage development it would just be a different way of doing things. Carcass epds could become interesting as well. It is all predicated on a corn high energy system. I wonder if the current high marbling cattle will have such "high epds" on forage? I would guess not. In short, I think we are heading for the 20s the time before industrial agriculture made corn so plentiful, it won't be plentiful for us, so we will have to breed cattle that don't have to have the feed. 3,4,or 5 frame cattle, that can fatten on forages. These are my thoughts, for what it is worth :) [/QUOTE]
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