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Is small cow size a myth?
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<blockquote data-quote="AllForage" data-source="post: 1116610" data-attributes="member: 14878"><p>His example also assumes one needs more facilities to calve out 100 more cows. Not everybody calves in the winter. Also not everybody pays your bull average price to breed those extra cows. Besides that, bull to cow ratio depends on the kind of country and pasture sizes one is using.</p><p></p><p>This debate probably gets down to cow "type" more than weight or even frame score. You can have moderate frame cows (3-5) that can push more than 1400 in good condition. The right type of cow can handle large swings in body condition and feed availability and still breed. Especially in western extensive places the ability to put back fat on and condition in good times and then live off those in bad times seems to be what efficiency really is to the cow calf guy. The area of emphasis of efficiency obviously can change with where one is located and their target market. Larger frame cattle take more feed to gain condition and maintain it especially with the ability for high milk output. Funny how one poster here talks about how their cows are big and easy keepers, then admits to taking a feed sack out when cold. Cold in TN? My cows nurse calves all through our WI winter all on hay only. I am not suggesting this is the only way, but if cows need a feedsack ever there is issue.</p><p></p><p>For the poster who suggested moderate framed cattle produce wastey and small carcasses, try using google now and then. Plenty of studies using lowline frame 4 steers produced acceptable industry carcass sizes with the same feed to gain ratio.</p><p></p><p>Nesikep, small cattle ran through conventional channels are probably a lost opportunity in northern climates. Sitting at a bale feeder for 6-7 months then grazing lush grass sure makes life easier for big cows.</p><p></p><p>One exception to this northern thing is marketing into grassfed where there is a clear advantage to frame 3-5 cattle.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AllForage, post: 1116610, member: 14878"] His example also assumes one needs more facilities to calve out 100 more cows. Not everybody calves in the winter. Also not everybody pays your bull average price to breed those extra cows. Besides that, bull to cow ratio depends on the kind of country and pasture sizes one is using. This debate probably gets down to cow "type" more than weight or even frame score. You can have moderate frame cows (3-5) that can push more than 1400 in good condition. The right type of cow can handle large swings in body condition and feed availability and still breed. Especially in western extensive places the ability to put back fat on and condition in good times and then live off those in bad times seems to be what efficiency really is to the cow calf guy. The area of emphasis of efficiency obviously can change with where one is located and their target market. Larger frame cattle take more feed to gain condition and maintain it especially with the ability for high milk output. Funny how one poster here talks about how their cows are big and easy keepers, then admits to taking a feed sack out when cold. Cold in TN? My cows nurse calves all through our WI winter all on hay only. I am not suggesting this is the only way, but if cows need a feedsack ever there is issue. For the poster who suggested moderate framed cattle produce wastey and small carcasses, try using google now and then. Plenty of studies using lowline frame 4 steers produced acceptable industry carcass sizes with the same feed to gain ratio. Nesikep, small cattle ran through conventional channels are probably a lost opportunity in northern climates. Sitting at a bale feeder for 6-7 months then grazing lush grass sure makes life easier for big cows. One exception to this northern thing is marketing into grassfed where there is a clear advantage to frame 3-5 cattle. [/QUOTE]
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