Thinking about your comment, I am reminded of a certain poster here that has constantly replied to my photos that my "cows are too fat". I think they look great especially having gone through this winter.

My cows have never had a mouthful of silage. The only things they eat are grass and hay with maybe a few pounds per head of sweet feed occasionally in the super cold weather or when I need to get them into the corral.

Maybe the reason my cows look different and "fat" to others is that they are "fat" compared to others. I think the reason may be that the cows and heifers pictured are the result of using several generations of very high marbling EPD bulls. I then retaining their heifers and put another high marbling bull on them.  This seems to produce cattle that can marble and produce a layer of fat under their thick Hereford hides just eating grass, the way the native buffalo did. 

The only stock I purchase is a registered bull every few years from a few sources that think like I do.  I only buy bulls who are near the top of the breed in calving ease (CED) and marbling EPDs. In between purchased bulls I will keep one of his sons out of my best cow and use him (or both when my numbers are up) for a couple years.

This multiplying effect produces (on good grass and hay) steers with nicely marbled, tasty beef and along with females, have a layer of insulation and food reserve fat right under their hide, without a mouthful of silage or corn. In the summer they slick up and spend hot afternoons in the shade of the woods, grazing in early morning and early evening. The fat layer does not seem to cause them any problems in the summer.

That may be why my cows appear to be "fat" to others. Are they TOO fat? Who knows, who cares, as long as they work in my system.

Thanks for your comment.

ETA: I do look at AHA udder EPDs also when buying a bull