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.
Heidi Exline with American Farmland Trust shares how their Farm to School initiative helps strengthen the connection between local farms and school food programs.
October 15, 2025 04:46 PM
·
Support policies that keep U.S. biofuels at the table—marine demand could materially lift corn grind, crush margins, and rural jobs.
October 15, 2025 03:47 PM
·
Industry leaders say $11 billion in new investments could turn the tide as dairy producers face shrinking margins and growing uncertainty.
October 15, 2025 11:53 AM
·
U.S. Farmers Face Shifting Harvest Pace, Basis, and Input Costs
October 15, 2025 10:47 AM
·
FFA students in New York City are transforming urban spaces into working farms while gaining hands-on skills that connect city life with the roots of agriculture.
October 14, 2025 04:55 PM
·
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation joins us to discuss the idea behind the campaign and why accurate labeling on plant-based beverages matters to both consumers and dairy producers.
October 14, 2025 04:47 PM
·
Hughes shares how he’s preparing for the competition, his partnership with Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis, and his journey from cattle ranching to professional bass fishing.
October 14, 2025 04:39 PM
·
Cottage cheese sales are on the rise across the U.S., and industry leaders believe interest on social media is contributing to the surge in consumer demand.
October 14, 2025 04:16 PM
·
A new proposal from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could transform how farmers use drones, allowing commercial operators to fly beyond their visual line of sight.
October 14, 2025 01:51 PM
·
