HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cartwright, T. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Cartwright, T. C.

Size as a Component of Beef Production Efficiency: Cow-Calf Production¹

Texas A&M University, College Station 77843

Abstract

The variability in body size that presently exists among and within breeds of cattle suggests that either there are no clear cut differences in efficiency related to size, that there is a biological or economic niche for each size, and/or that production conditions are dynamic or cyclic so that size preferences remain in continuous disequilibrium. There is evidence to support, at least partially, all of these presumptions. The inputs required and outputs produced by different sizes of cattle do tend to trade off and equalize production efficiency of the total herd if each is properly managed for its size (e.g., Ellison et al., 1974; Klosterman et al., 1974). Nonetheless, the location, market, resources, producer skills, breeding systems and other environmental effects are quite variable and matching size to these conditions, or to the times, does affect production efficiency. Therefore, variability of size of cattle should be viewed as a useful genetic resource that presents opportunities for increasing efficiency of production if properly utilized and managed.

¹ Invitational paper presented at the Beef Cattle Session of the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, University of Wisconsin, July 25, 1977.

² Animal Science Department.