Effect of Cow Size on Efficiency
Animal Science
samuel SMITH
retired
United States
Thomaston, GA
Abstract
In order for beef producers to achieve maximum profit ,it is necessary for their cows to produce a calf per year and rebreed with the least amount of imput. The cows need to meet a specific average percent of their body weight when compared to their calves' adjusted 205 day weight. If this percent is too low, the cow is putting too much input into her own maintenance and not enough toward producing milk for the calf. If too high, she has difficulty re-breeding. Three herds were randomly selected and tracked for a period of three years. Cow weights were taken the same day as the calves 205 day weights. No creep feed was fed to calves and no supplements were fed to cows. Significant fluctuations were found in cow weights each year due to drought but it was discovered that for cows raising heifers, percent body weights each year due to drought but it was discovered that for cows raising heifers, percent body weight needed to be between 39% and 44% and for cows raising bulls, percent body weight should be between 44% and 49% in order to reach maximum efficiency.
Authors: Smith, W.
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Smith, W. County Extension Coordinator, University Of Georgia, Georgia, 30286