By Kim Ricardo
The mature weight of the U.S. cow herd has steadily increased over time. While larger cows are often perceived as more productive, this trend brings several economic challenges. This article focuses on how increasing mature cow size affects profitability in commercial cow-calf operations, particularly from a per-acre perspective. In an ideal system, the most efficient cow is one that remains productive under adverse conditions (e.g., drought), requires minimal inputs (e.g., feed and forage), maintains body condition, and consistently weans a calf each year.
Investigating Operational Impacts
Cow Efficiency
A common misconception is that larger cows are more productive because they wean heavier calves. However, research indicates that for every 100-pound increase in mature cow weight, calf weaning weight increases by only about ten pounds. To better evaluate productivity, we use a measure of efficiency: pounds of calf weaned per pound of cow body weight (lbs. calf/lbs. cow × 100). Higher percentages indicate greater efficiency. Ideally, cows should wean at least 50% of their body weight annually.
Source : sdstate.edu