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An Evaluation of the Ratio of Calf Weight to Cow Weight as an Indicator of Cow Efficiency^{1 ,2,}

South Dakota State University, Brookings 57006

Abstract

Data including 122 records collected from 73 individually-fed drylot cows and their calves produced from 1972 through 1974 were analyzed to evaluate the comparative accuracy of weaning weight vs the ratio of calf weight to cow weight or calf weight to metabolic cow weight as predictors of feed required to produce 1 kg of calf at weaning. Results indicate that weaning weight was the best single predictor of efficiency followed closely by the ratio of calf weight to metabolic cow weight and the ratio of calf weight to cow weight. There appears to be no advantage in using cow weight in a ratio to predict efficiency, but it can be combined with weaning weight to achieve a 3% increase in the coefficient of determination for efficiency.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Publication No. 1512 of the Journal Series. Cooperative with ARS, USDA, and a contribution from Regional Project NC-1.

² Department of Animal Science.

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