Possible Impacts of the Expected Shift from Cow-Calf to Cow-Yearling Enterprises

Cow/Calf Analysis: Key Indicators of Profitability

Breed effects on crossbred cow-calf performance.

Effects of seven breeds of cow's sire and 12 breeds of cow's maternal grandsire on preweaning performance of crossbred cows and their calves were examined in data from two experiments conducted at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Mean Animal Research Center. Data included 1,836 records over three to five parities for 516 cows by 143 sires and by 307 maternal grandsires. The statistical model fitted eff...

Using Byproduct Feeds in Cow/Calf Programs

Bull management for cow/calf producers

Fertility in a bull is generally defined as the ability to impregnate females. Certainly that is a minimum requirement, but a bull with high fertility is able to impregnate more than the expected number of cows in a short breeding season. Such a bull has greater economic value than one of lesser fertility (1,17). If the bull also has a desirable genetic background, it could contribute more than...

Lameness in Cow/Calf and Feedyard Cattle

The incidence of lameness in beef cows on pasture is generally quite low. Grass pastures are normal walking surfaces for cattle. They provide comfortable forgiving footing that offers traction, thus preventing injuries from slips and falls. Softer walking surfaces also reduce the mechanical factors that encourage claw horn overgrowth and altered weight-bearing that are important predisposing ca...