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<blockquote data-quote="dun" data-source="post: 89745" data-attributes="member: 34"><p>All frame score does is provide a relative measurement of mature size. On limited a forage base the larger the cow the fewer that can be run productively. It allows Joe Schwartz in CA to compare the relative height with Sam Scratch in MN.</p><p>That said, it's really a pretty marginal method of comparing cattle. Ours tend to be short and very wide, the neighbors Angus are taller and don;t have the width. His have a larger FS but they weigh about the same as ours. Mature weight based on body condition is a more equal comparison. But that doesn;t address the easy doing cattle vs those that are harder doing cattle. I'm sure there are myriad studys that show that a cow that weighs 1600 eats x% more feed than one that weighs 1100, but just as there are people that can gain weight and be healthy on less feed, I'm sure it's the same with cattle. But I'm sure no scientist. Our heifers are selected from those that come off the cow looking good and don;t change significantly while on a light grain ration during the weaning process. They're turned out with the cow herd for the winter and are expected to flourish with no supplement. Our cows run probably about a FS 4.5 to 6.5 One of the heiviest who also raises one of the top calves each year is the smallest cow and weighs 1400 lbs. Based on the FS table she shouldn;t weigh near that much, but she's wider across the back and through the hooks as several cows that are in the 1600 range.</p><p>One other concern about FS/height is how intimidated my stubby wife (stretching she won;t make 5 foot) gets when she's srrounded by cows that are taller then her. They can;t hurt her any worse, but her brain says those bigger cows are scarier.</p><p>Numbers are just another tool, doesn;t matter if it's pelvic, height, EPDs, or number of legs. When you find cattle with a particular set of data that consistantly work well for you, it's hard to start looking at a change for the sake of change. But the physical part of the cow is still the single most important part. No matter how great all of the numbers are, if her feet are poor, legs are too extreme in either direction, narrow girthed, etc., she isn;t going to work in some environments.</p><p></p><p></p><p>dun</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dun, post: 89745, member: 34"] All frame score does is provide a relative measurement of mature size. On limited a forage base the larger the cow the fewer that can be run productively. It allows Joe Schwartz in CA to compare the relative height with Sam Scratch in MN. That said, it's really a pretty marginal method of comparing cattle. Ours tend to be short and very wide, the neighbors Angus are taller and don;t have the width. His have a larger FS but they weigh about the same as ours. Mature weight based on body condition is a more equal comparison. But that doesn;t address the easy doing cattle vs those that are harder doing cattle. I'm sure there are myriad studys that show that a cow that weighs 1600 eats x% more feed than one that weighs 1100, but just as there are people that can gain weight and be healthy on less feed, I'm sure it's the same with cattle. But I'm sure no scientist. Our heifers are selected from those that come off the cow looking good and don;t change significantly while on a light grain ration during the weaning process. They're turned out with the cow herd for the winter and are expected to flourish with no supplement. Our cows run probably about a FS 4.5 to 6.5 One of the heiviest who also raises one of the top calves each year is the smallest cow and weighs 1400 lbs. Based on the FS table she shouldn;t weigh near that much, but she's wider across the back and through the hooks as several cows that are in the 1600 range. One other concern about FS/height is how intimidated my stubby wife (stretching she won;t make 5 foot) gets when she's srrounded by cows that are taller then her. They can;t hurt her any worse, but her brain says those bigger cows are scarier. Numbers are just another tool, doesn;t matter if it's pelvic, height, EPDs, or number of legs. When you find cattle with a particular set of data that consistantly work well for you, it's hard to start looking at a change for the sake of change. But the physical part of the cow is still the single most important part. No matter how great all of the numbers are, if her feet are poor, legs are too extreme in either direction, narrow girthed, etc., she isn;t going to work in some environments. dun [/QUOTE]
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