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Is small cow size a myth?
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<blockquote data-quote="inyati13" data-source="post: 1116827" data-attributes="member: 17767"><p>I don't spend effort engaging in determining the most efficient cow. I find my rewards in the vocation of taking the best care of my cows that I can and the joy that comes from producing good calves. Having confessed that, I like to think that I am selecting cows and semen that produce good stock and efficency should be part of that. The years it would take for me to gain the personal experience to make that kind of determination does not seem possible at my age. I will soon be 64. I am fit but I know the remaining years are limited. Nevertheless, I am natually observant. I have cows that carry more condition than others on the same feed. They are not different breeds, in fact, they have similiar genetic pedigrees. There are innate physiological differences that make one mammal more efficient than the next. It certainly would provide a competitive benefit in a natural selection scenario. I have two simangus cows who will stick their nose into the feeder but never take a mouthfull. They have more condition than my other cows who run to the feeder and push everyone else aside to get the most they can.</p><p></p><p>It has occurred to me that if I were going to perform a study of the efficency of a cow in converting feed to body mass, it would be a challenge to conclude that cow A, B and C convert more feed to body mass than cow D, E and F, but what are the physiological mechanisms that are at work? In other words, if it is not breed and pedigree related in my herd, then what do you select for? My point is: it may be more myth than the studies are indicating. We have had this discussion before: research has its limitations and many studies are biased. Disclaimer: I am not disparaging the studies or research. I only see that it would be difficult.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="inyati13, post: 1116827, member: 17767"] I don't spend effort engaging in determining the most efficient cow. I find my rewards in the vocation of taking the best care of my cows that I can and the joy that comes from producing good calves. Having confessed that, I like to think that I am selecting cows and semen that produce good stock and efficency should be part of that. The years it would take for me to gain the personal experience to make that kind of determination does not seem possible at my age. I will soon be 64. I am fit but I know the remaining years are limited. Nevertheless, I am natually observant. I have cows that carry more condition than others on the same feed. They are not different breeds, in fact, they have similiar genetic pedigrees. There are innate physiological differences that make one mammal more efficient than the next. It certainly would provide a competitive benefit in a natural selection scenario. I have two simangus cows who will stick their nose into the feeder but never take a mouthfull. They have more condition than my other cows who run to the feeder and push everyone else aside to get the most they can. It has occurred to me that if I were going to perform a study of the efficency of a cow in converting feed to body mass, it would be a challenge to conclude that cow A, B and C convert more feed to body mass than cow D, E and F, but what are the physiological mechanisms that are at work? In other words, if it is not breed and pedigree related in my herd, then what do you select for? My point is: it may be more myth than the studies are indicating. We have had this discussion before: research has its limitations and many studies are biased. Disclaimer: I am not disparaging the studies or research. I only see that it would be difficult. [/QUOTE]
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