It means that she is to big for most any herd. She does keep weight on very easily, doesn't take any grain or extra special feed. She just stays around the 1750lb range. Her bull calves are coming at 90 or more pounds and her heifers 85lbs or more. I am not sure if she is going to have a place in the herd for years to come or not. She throws big growthy calves that do very well on grass alone. Last years heifer weaned at 720 this years bull will probably weight a little more then that. She is big enought that she is hard to get into a squeeze chute or down the alley way.
We bred her ai to a low BW bull and we will see how her next calf does. I might just put an egg in her next year and let her raise an et calf.
So to answer your question DOC, no I am not trying to get big BW. i don't think there will be a market for those type of calves. I am moderating my herd, but probably not to the extent that you would. I want my cows around the 1400lb range. They need to maintain condition on grass and hay, maybe a few cubes or a protien bucket occasionally.
Though a 1000-1200lb cow might be the most effecient in lb weaned per body weight, I am not sure that those type of cows give you the performance in their calves that is needed to sell seedstock bulls. I want a lot of performance in my calves, but need to walk a fine line with momma cow weight to get it. Anyone have answer as to where that line is?
