Radale Tiner
Association Perspective
Maternal efficiency.
In most businesses, efficiency is the name of the game. Managers promote employees who are the most efficient at their job. We want employees who give more output with the least amount of input. Why should your cow herd be any different? In order for a cow herd to be profitable, it must contain efficient females.
When talking to breeders about cow herd efficiency, I get asked many questions. However, the No. 1 question that always gets asked is “How do I measure efficiency?” There could possibly be different criteria for a breeder from Montana vs. a breeder from south Texas. The American Angus Association has several tools that help us measure a cow’s efficiency.
As a breeder you have the freedom to use that information as it best fits your individual operation. One of the tools that is easy to use and understand is the calving-interval number that is accessed through your member login account for each animal under progeny.
This number is simply the average number of days between calvings for this cow. A cow that has a calf every 365 days is obviously more efficient and profitable than a cow that calves every 500 days. Ratios are also a great tool at which to look. A cow that continually raises a heavier calf would be more profitable to your ranch.
Another tool that allows you as breeders to collect more information is MaternalPlus®. Producers will receive additional information at weaning time, including calving ease, birth weight and weaning weight expected progeny differences (EPDs) for calves out of inventoried cows. You can read more about MaternalPlus on your login page by clicking on the MaternalPlus tab.
At the end of the day, efficiency is what drives all successful businesses. We are very fortunate to be working with a very efficient breed of cattle. I encourage you to contact your local regional manager to find out more about utilizing the information available to identify the most efficient cows in your herd.
Editor’s Note: Regional Manager Radale Tiner covers Region 1, including the states of New Mexico and Texas. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.
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