Cattle are larger today then in past generations
It’s one those things you might not notice if it comes on gradually. I’m Jeff keane; If you are around something constantly you might not be so quick to notice a change occurring.
Writing in Feedstuffs magazine, Cargill’s Bryan McMurry says after studying data on cattle weights over the last thirty plus years, he has documented the increase in the individual weights of our nation’s cowherd. What has led to this weight increase is the fact that cattle were selected for average daily gain and yearling weight in our market cattle. Focusing on these growth traits contributed to larger breeding cattle since there is a high genetic correlation between growth and mature size. In 1975 the average cow carcass weight was 475 pounds. By 2005 that weight had increased to 621 pounds. Using average body condition score and an average dressing percentage, calculations show live cow weights would now be about 1,370 pounds compared to just under 1,050 pounds in 1975. Studying one of McMurry’s grafts it was interesting to see the large increases in breeding bull carcass weights at the time of slaughter. Large weight jumps occurred from 1977 to 1980 and from 1983 to 1989. Bull carcass weights have increased from 680 pounds in 1975 to over 900 pounds in 2005. Are these breeding cattle getting too big? We might look at that another time. I’m Jeff Keane.
