cross_7":3hztd95a said:
i,ve wondered if those 800-1000# cows were actually better/more profitable.
i know there fewer cows and less grass on the same ranch now.
i'm just not sure what the calves from the smaller cows will bring at the sale barn.
The seminar I was listening to on DVAuctions from Kit Pharo had a pretty good explanation of the matter. I don't really buy into his teachings, but I could see how if it was done properly you could make a profit running smaller framed cows. Say you have 40,000 lbs of total beef. At weaning that would be about 67 - 5, 6, 7 framed steers and about 114 smaller framed steers, but when you add them all up you will be at 40,000 lbs of total product. Since lighter weight calves are always bringing more per pound its likely that some buyers would mistake the smaller framed steers for just being younger and therefore would pay more money per pound for them. So say you get $1.14 per pound for your 350 lbs small framed steers and $0.95 per pound for you 600 lbs larger framed steers. 40,000 lbs x $1.14 per pound = $45,600
and 40,000 lbs x $0.95 per pound = $38,000 so in theory you are making $7,600 more by using the smaller framed steers. Anyway that's what I got out of an hour/ hour and half online seminar.