Mine get a lot of walking in hills, Mark.

I agree on the excercise. They probably average 1/8 mile to 1/4 mile to water on winter pastures.

The comment about colder than normal winters bringing larger calves may have something to it.

Yet my other cow pictured went through the same winter, same feed and had her same healthy 70 lb live calf as shown....

I think I am going to stick to my own genetic base as much as possible. I need cows that are maybe different from the norm.

I do not have nice warm straw-bedded barns for them to calve in. These girls need to find a clear spot on a hill as shown.

One thing I may do is to split the corn grazing next year into two segments - let the steers in the virgin standing corn to get the ears then follow with the heifers and cows to cleanup and get less grain during their second trimester. They will get hay only during their third trimester as usual.

Thanks.

Jim at Dawn