Management
BeefTalk: Do Not Be Afraid to Moderate Cow Size,
But Select Good Bulls
By Kris Ringwall, NDSU Extension Service
“How does a beef producer
get a handle on cow size?” is
an often-asked question I get
during bull-buying workshops.
The question is complex because
the foundation of the “cow size”
issue rests with the development
and implementation of
cattle breeding systems.
Bulls produce at least two types
of calves: one type for terminal
production and one type
destined to be replacements
within the breeding herd. The
proper utilization of a breeding
system has the potential to
maximize the use and benefits
of both types of calves.
The beef industry has gotten
along selecting good growth
and efficient bulls, and keeping
females from those bulls as
replacements. I guess that
works, but the question remains,
24 | APRIL 2018
“How does a beef producer get
a handle on cow size without
effective breeding systems?”
Here’s a story regarding cattle at
the Dickinson Research Extension
Center. From 2008 to 2011, we
established two cow herds to
develop a set of smaller cows to
use on range research projects.
The smaller cattle averaged 38
to 40 inches (frame score 2.6)
at the hip at fall weaning, and
the larger cattle averaged 43
to 44 inches (frame score 4.9).
The smaller-framed cows were
designated as “range” and
the moderately framed cows
were designated as “beef.”
Interestingly, the average mature
(6 to 8 years of age) weight was
1,295 pounds for the “range”
cows and 1,522 pounds for the
“beef” cows. Throughout the
lifetime of these cows, more
than once a raised eyebrow
was evident, even from me.
In the back of my mind were
two nagging question: “Where
does this weight come from?”
and “How do cows that
averaged a frame score 2.6
as calves at weaning mature
out at 1,295 pounds?”
I had no question about the cows
that averaged a frame score 4.9 as
calves at weaning and weighed
1,522 pounds as mature cows.
So how does one explain the
performance of these smaller
cows and their subsequent calves
to an industry very focused
on growth and efficiency?
That focus defines a strong tie
between increasing growth
and efficiency within the beef
business, keeping in mind
that growth and efficiency