Case Study #1 Fact Sheet
NCBA-Pfizer’s Cattlemen’s College
“Genetics for Cowboys”

Situation Statement - what are your goals for this operation in the future?
1.	Breed an efficient cow that can wean off 50% of her body weight. 
2.	Improve feedlot potential of the calves to maintain high market value at the auction market, but knows that too lean of cattlemay cause a reproduction losses.
3.  This producer would like to increase herd size and be able to retain ownership on his calves to take advantage of his genetics and health program.

Number of Cows:
Present herd size ranges from 25 to 30 females depending upon the number of replacement heifers retained.  There is no immediate plan for either expansion or reduction of herd size.

Breeds Utilized:  
Bulls to be selected for use in this operation are Gelbvieh as they have decided to incorporate them into a 2 breed rotational crossbreeding system using Angus and Gelbvieh. The cows in this herd are predominantly Angus by percentage Black Simmental females.  Most of the cows are ¼ to 3/8 Simmental and the remaining blood is Angus.  

Breeding Scheme:
This operation is spread out somewhat and currently uses natural service exclusively and has single sire breeding pastures.

Breeding System:
Currently a 2 breed crossbreeding system is being utilized.

What do you consider to be the best type of cow for your farm resources?
An efficient 1200 to 1350 lb. cow that is moderate to high in frame and milk.  This operation has a goal for the cows to wean off 50% of their mature body weight or 600 to 650 lbs at 200 to 210 days of age without creep feed.

Replacement Strategy:  
This operation raises its own replacement females exclusively and is not interested in changing that strategy.  Heifers begin calving at the same time the mature cows do.

Calving Season:
March 3rd through May 1st is the principal calving time that this herd tries to achieve.  The herd owner is thinking about moving this back, but indicates that the feeders buying his calves tend to feed out using a fast-track program and marketing at 13 to 15 months of age.

Calving Distribution (1997-2000)
Interval		% Calves
1st 42 days		   90.3%
1st 63 days		   96.9%	
Late			   3.1%		

% Calf Crop: (last 3 yr. average)	about 95% of the cows that were carried through the winter.

% Open: (last 3 yr. average)  4-6 % with about 4-6% bred late, resulting in late calvers.

% Calving Difficulty (last 4 yr. average)
Heifers: generally 15 to 25% of the heifers each year have mechanical pulls and an added 20 to 30% have to be hand assisted.
Mature Cows: seldom any cows require assistance at birth.  Less than 1%.

Age at Weaning: usually done at an average age of 7 months.  Weaning weights the last 4 years have ranged from a low of 510 lbs to a high of 605 lbs with an average of 548 lbs for both steers and heifers.
Creep Fed: Calves are creep fed for a maximum of 30 days prior to weaning.  The customers tell the producer that this management practice helps start calves on feed easier when they buy them.

Calf Marketing Program:  Currently calves are either sold right off the cow or backgrounded for 40 to 60 days before selling at an auction market.