Herd Management
Finding the Right Cow Size is Not Simple
Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
The beef industry has tremendous potential
for growth within individual cattle. was for a single floor, eventually the foundation
will fail and the building will collapse.
But just because we can, does that mean
we should? Cattle are no different. The cattle industry
always will have a point where too much of
a good thing will become a challenge.
NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center
Average Weight by Age
Small “Range” Medium “Beef”
Herd
Herd
Frame Score
2.6 4.0
(pounds) (pounds)
506 616
As first calf heifers 1,019 1,190
As 3 year olds 1,082 1,308
As 4 year olds 1,162 1,414
As 5 year olds 1,234 1,519
As 6 year olds 1,271 1,513
As 8 year olds 1,295 1,522
Weight at sale time 1,308 1,580
205 day weight as calves
Sound cattle management focuses on maintaining
growth and efficiency and, in many operations,
pushing for improvement. The fear of paths that
may take an alternative route is real. Like life,
management of alternatives with only a partial
knowledge of the outcome amplifies concerns.
Without question, the incorporation of
alternative management programs is not easy. If
a management or selection protocol is working,
why not just continue? Well, that would be like
a building contractor adding floor upon floor to
a single-story building. If the foundation design
28 | MAY 2018
Let me tell a story. The point at
the end will be perplexing.
Once upon a time (2008 to 2011), two groups
of cows were born at the Dickinson Research
Extension Center Ranch near Manning.
One group’s frame score was 2.6; the other
group was 4.9. Some said those smaller
cattle certainly must be for entertainment
because the cows were quite different.
No, these were real cattle, not a sideshow. Although
I must admit to some head scratching and doubt
as to the functionality of the smaller cows.
As the small-frame cow herd number increased
through time, the bulk of the discussion
centered on frame size. The original objective
was to develop a herd of smaller cows for
grazing on the range research project at
the center. As the smaller cows came into
production, they replaced the largest cows.
Here’s an important point: The smaller
cows were daughters of cows that had
significant growth, as evident by the cows’
mature weight. Hold onto that thought.
The result was two herds: one smaller in frame
and one medium in frame. The larger-framed set
of cows, which were typical heavy-frame, score
6-plus types, were sold because the center did
not have pasture for additional cows. As calves,