RFI tested Hereford bull

[RobertMac]

On my place, I am not as concerned with efficiency as I am with capacity. If they can't take in enough nutrition because of our sorry grass, they can't breed back, raise a calf , and maintain their condition. Capacity also shows up in pounds when they cross the scales.

I'm with you, RR....particularly the "sorry grass"!!! Common sense says it takes a higher capacity to process a lesser quality feed to reach the same nutritional level. BUT, we can never take our eye off muscling and the qualities of the final product.

Mike, I agree that good cattle will do good regardless the feed...but cattle that do good on forage 'only' will always do good on a higher quality feed. I have experienced cattle falling apart as I took away the "crutches" and put my herd on 100% forage. I have experienced extremely good herd health on 100% forage (and a closed herd). I stopped having sick cattle when I stopped feeding grain. I know my experiences are all anecdotal, but I'll never change what I'm doing...and my cattle will love me for it!!! :wink:

 

[Big Swede]

That reminds me of something Kit Pharo said in one of his newsletters: Love your wife and love your kids but don't make any excuses for your cows. Don't love anything that can't love you back.

Good advice when it comes time for culling.