Analyze Cow Production Performance at Weaning
Identify the cow herd’s performance and see where improvements can be made with these calculations.
Regular and consistent performance analysis can help a cow-calf operation: 1) identify where the business has excelled, as well as opportunities for improvement; 2) make informed management decisions; and 3) formulate goals and monitor progress toward goals. Analyzing cow herd performance for only one year will not accomplish all the above. Regular analysis over time helps producers build a base of knowledge for better management decisions and improved profitability.
Several years of analysis of the information collected on the cow herd (read this article here) in addition to accurate cattle inventory records throughout the year help producers monitor improvement in financial and production statistics. This study verifies progress made and gets a true picture of the ranch’s performance and potential.
Beef production and reproductive measures
Accurate production records are essential for meaningful analysis. In addition to the cow herd information discussed in the previous article, inventories of all categories of cattle are necessary at times of breeding, pregnancy testing, calving and weaning. What follows are some basic calculations of beef herd performance measures that should be evaluated after weaning.
Pregnancy percentage = (number of females pregnant ÷ number of females exposed) x 100
Calving percentage = (number of calves born ÷ number of females exposed) x 100
Keep in mind, low values in both the above calculations indicate a problem, but not the cause of the problem. Environmental stresses will cause year-to-year variation.
Calf death loss per exposed female = (number of calves that died ÷ number of exposed females) x 100
Calf death loss per calves born = (number of calves that died ÷ number of calves born) x 100
Percent calf crop weaned = (number of calves weaned ÷ number of females exposed) x 100
Keep in mind, percent calf crop weaned is a good indicator of total herd productivity, nutritional adequacy and good husbandry practices because it takes into account the previous calculations. However, it does not account for excessive use of inputs like feed and labor.
Calving distribution. Monitoring calving distribution within the calving season can provide insight on the reproductive performance of the herd. This is typically done by splitting the calving season into thirds. For example, in a 75-day calving season, track how many cows calve in days 1-25, 26-50 and 51-75. Ideally, a large proportion of the cow herd would calve in the first one-third of the calving season. This would indicate good management, nutritional adequacy and good reproductive performance.
Actual weaning weights. These are often used as a performance benchmark. Higher-profit operations tend to have heavier weaning weights. However, the methods used to accomplish this need to be evaluated closely relative to cost effectiveness.
Pounds weaned per exposed female = (total pounds of calves weaned ÷ total number of exposed females) x 100
One of the key production records each cow-calf operation should assess for each calf crop is pounds weaned per exposed female. This is a meaningful record because it takes into account herd reproductive rate, calf death loss and genetic potential for growth and maternal performance. Age at weaning and calving distribution has a profound effect on pounds weaned per exposed female, making this performance measure meaningful for the individual operation to evaluate on a year-to-year basis.
More information can be found on the calculation and meaning of these measures of herd performance in the 8th edition of the OSU Beef Manual. None of these measures is a stand-alone indicator. They should be viewed collectively and in relationship to each other. Over time, they can indicate areas in which management can be improved in the form of breeding decisions, herd health, or nutrition and stocking rates.
Editor’s note: Mark Johnson is an extension beef cattle breeding specialist for Oklahoma State University. Photo by Shauna Hermel.
