Personally I am sick to death of the "big cows are inefficient, small cows aren't" argument.

Just like people, there are large and small cows that are 'easy keepers', and large and small cows that are not. I am not the least bit interested in maintaing a 50-60% weaning weight cow / calf ratio. I want easy keeping cows and the most calf pounds in the fall for the least input.

In 3 generations of feeding mother cows on this place the pounds of feed per cow figure has not changed, while the size and type of cow has. I don't want giant cows and I don't want midgets. Give me moderation in all things and I'll be quite happy. I generally feel like I have more latitude in bull selection if I keep moderate framed cows.

Year in and year out our cull cows generally average between 1300 and 1400 lbs depending on condition..... what I would consider moderate.