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With an increasing number of store cattle and weanlings housed, it is a good time to weigh cattle and review performance at grass.
Weighing spring-born calves will give a far better reflection on cow performance and this information can be used when deciding which cows to cull.
Run calves over the bridge and record individual weights, then work out a herd average and an average for bull and heifer calves.
Work out weight gain from birth to weaning, or housing. To do this, you will need to deduct a birth weight.
You can use the individual date of birth for animals, or take an average date of birth, although this is less accurate.
Target weight gain
A good target weight gain from birth to weaning is 1.2kg/day. Assuming a birth weight of 45kg, February- and March-born calves will be around 210 to 240 days old in mid-October, so weaning weights should be around 290kg to 330kg.
Look through the range of calf weaning weights. Where early spring-born calves are below the average weaning weight, is it down to cows with poor milk yield, an inferior stock bull or a health problem?
Store cattle
By weighing store cattle at housing, you can complete a simple winter finishing budget. Work out how much weight cattle need to gain to reach slaughter weight. How long do you expect this to take?
Bear in mind that cattle will gain 0.4kg to 0.6kg/day when stored over winter and around 1kg/day when pushed hard on concentrates.
How much feed will be required? Work out typical feed inputs and the cost. This should give you an idea whether stores are better off cashed in now, or finished out of the shed in spring.
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