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ND | All the experts say that smaller framed cows, 1100 to 1400 pounds are the most profitable. which i kinda agree with. but the problem with that i think is that along with developing low maintenance small frame 1200 pound cows, you also develop smaller framed steer calves. and the feedlots and packers seem to want the opposite.
so as a cow calf guy, are there things that you can do to help the finishing weight of that smaller framed steer? does weaning it, keeping it green over winter, and then turning it out to grass over summer help develop the frame so that it will finish at a heavier weight? if you have smaller framed calves are you better off selling them as yearlings in September at 8 or 900 pounds?
I was talking to a cattle buyer a couple weeks ago and he said green and framey. they want them green and framey. which i agree, those are the calves that top the sales every week. but that doesn't mean they are the most profitable for the cow calf producer.
any thoughts? and no i dont think crossbreeding is the answer. cause you just develop larger framed replacements heifers along the way. unless you run two herds. but even then you're still gonna have smaller framed steers along the way | |
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feeding small frame calves.
