NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Weaning weights alone can be misleading when comparing cow performance, especially in herds with wide variation in mature cow size. That’s a key point highlighted by Kenny Burdine, livestock economist with the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, as producers review records and make culling decisions.
Larger cows often wean heavier calves, but they also cost more to maintain. Bigger cows consume more forage, hay, supplements, and minerals — and they often carry higher indirect costs tied to health, handling, transportation, and yardage. When culling decisions are based strictly on calf weaning weight, smaller-framed cows are more likely to be removed, gradually increasing average cow size and pushing herd costs higher over time.
Burdine’s analysis suggests producers should view productivity relative to cow size, not just raw calf pounds. In a budgeting exercise, he found that for every additional 100 pounds of mature cow weight, a cow needed to wean roughly 50 more pounds of calf just to stay economically competitive. That relationship shifts with cattle prices, but the principle remains consistent.
Tracking individual cow-calf performance helps identify which cows are truly earning their place.
Bubba and Amy Miller run Miller Cattle Company in Eros, Louisiana. After visiting other homesteading fairs, they decided to put on their own.
October 21, 2025 02:28 PM
·
We highlight an Iowa FFA student who is harnessing the power of AI technology to assess stress in agriculture-related careers.
October 21, 2025 12:53 PM
·
Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
October 21, 2025 11:22 AM
·
Cattle groups say additional imports would offer little relief for consumers but could erode rancher confidence as the industry begins to rebuild herds.
October 21, 2025 11:06 AM
·
The USDA’s latest Hogs and Pigs Report caught some analysts off guard. Inventories came in lower than expected, signaling tighter supplies ahead, even as producers return to profitability this year.
October 20, 2025 04:06 PM
·
The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
October 20, 2025 12:46 PM
·
Slightly higher output amid softer gasoline pull points to steady corn grind — watch regional stocks and export pace for basis clues.
October 17, 2025 04:59 PM
·
Expect firm calf and fed-cattle prices — pair selective heifer retention with prudent hedging and liquidity to bridge rebuilding costs.
October 17, 2025 04:54 PM
·
The Louisiana cotton crop is the smallest on record, but strong yields are a silver lining. LSU AgCenter’s Craig Gautreaux reports from northeast Louisiana.
October 17, 2025 04:48 PM
·
