137 Application of Performance Metrics to Evaluate Cow Performance: A Collaboration of the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Abstract

Beef cattle producers engaged in the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) Commercial Record Keeping Program are encouraged to expand records for evaluation of whole herd performance. Collection of cow weight at calf weaning can be used as a metric to estimate cow performance for overall productivity. From 2019 to 2021, five beef cattle operations annually collected individual cow weight at calf weaning (n = 284 observations). Cow age was classified as 2 to 4 years old, 5 to 8 years old and 9 years and older. Cow weight was classified into three categories as small (1199 lb or less), moderate (1200 to 1499 lb) or large (1500 lb or greater). Average cow weight per category was small 1108 lb (n = 37), moderate 1353 lb (n = 180) and large 1605 lb (n = 67). Within each age range and size category, cow performance was measured by average calving interval, average calf adjusted weaning weight and percentage cow body weight weaned. For 2 to 4 years old, average calving interval was 18 days longer between small to moderate categories and 96 days longer between moderate to large categories. For 5 years of age and older, modest impact on average calving interval due to an increase in body weight was observed (3 to 7 days small to moderate; 19 to 8 days moderate to large). Across all ages, moderate impact on average calf adjusted weaning weight due to cow weight was reflected (19, 38, 43 lb. small to moderate; 37, 27, 37 lb. moderate to large). As cow age and weight increases, percentage of cow body weight weaned decreases (2 to 4 years 57%, 48%, 42%; 5 to 8 years 50%, 45% 40%; 9 years 47%, 44% 39%). In summary, measuring cow weight at calf weaning enhances genetic and management practices to illustrate and improve cow herd productivity.