novatech
Well-known member
So the economics of good pasture management is a good thing I think we could all agree on. The fact that a small frame score cow weaning 60% is economical. That is simply good breeding for a cow calf operation. You have only addressed what many cattle operations strive for. This economic break down fits only the cow calf operation. Almost all cow calf operations grass feed up to this point. Nobody wants to spent extra money on supplements.
You are making a major issue about grass fed genetics. Those same genetics at the point you stopped could either go to a feed lot or be grass fed in a lush pasture. At this point it is a matter of the terminal calves developing the proper microbes in the rumen to handle what ever they are being fed.
Now if you plan on grass feeding them you had better not follow that crap about the
A calf that is 60% of the cows weight at weaning is a big plus in the cow calf operation. It is breeding for early maturing calves. The real economics is in what happens next. Does that fast maturing calf slow down on gain per day on the finishing end?
Does the slower maturing calf speed up its gain on the finishing end ? It is the end result at finishing that should be determined. What are the total costs from birth to rail? The point where you stopped is actually where you should have started.
Another thing I would like to bring up. If you have a 1200 lb. cow that produces a 600 lb. calf, this cow being a low to moderate producer of milk, It seems to me that the fast maturing calf would also have to eat grass, more grass than the slower maturing calf. So in reality one should breed for efficiency in grass conversion. But unfortunately testing for this can only be done in a feed lot.
Here is a terminal break down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4xQ5P7l ... re=related
You are making a major issue about grass fed genetics. Those same genetics at the point you stopped could either go to a feed lot or be grass fed in a lush pasture. At this point it is a matter of the terminal calves developing the proper microbes in the rumen to handle what ever they are being fed.
Now if you plan on grass feeding them you had better not follow that crap about the
because they will not have enough rumen to digest it properly.Low in visceral organ weight
A calf that is 60% of the cows weight at weaning is a big plus in the cow calf operation. It is breeding for early maturing calves. The real economics is in what happens next. Does that fast maturing calf slow down on gain per day on the finishing end?
Does the slower maturing calf speed up its gain on the finishing end ? It is the end result at finishing that should be determined. What are the total costs from birth to rail? The point where you stopped is actually where you should have started.
Another thing I would like to bring up. If you have a 1200 lb. cow that produces a 600 lb. calf, this cow being a low to moderate producer of milk, It seems to me that the fast maturing calf would also have to eat grass, more grass than the slower maturing calf. So in reality one should breed for efficiency in grass conversion. But unfortunately testing for this can only be done in a feed lot.
Here is a terminal break down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4xQ5P7l ... re=related