Question

3. You have 200 Angus matron cows, all similar in frame score and overall phenotype. They have just

weaned their calves, and you are weighing the cows and assessing cow body condition. Average weight
of cows is 1600 lb., and they are all in body condition score (BCS) 5 give or take. Using the Texas
System, what do you estimate their weight to be at BCS 6 (at time of breeding)? If you weaned the calves
at 205 days of age measuring from the midpoint calf age, plus these cows are pregnant and in trimester 3
of gestation, how much time is there from weaning day until calving season (length of trimester 3 give or
take)? How much time from weaning day till breeding? How much weight per day will these cows need
to gain from weaning to breeding if they are BCS 5 at weaning, to be in a BCS 6 at breeding (needed
average daily gain, effectively)? Hint: Gestation of cow is 285 days. There are three equal length
trimesters of gestation. After calving and before rebreeding, cows need 30 to 45 days to recover but need
to be bred every 365 days (by day 365) and no longer or later than that.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Using the Texas System, the estimated weight of the cows at BCS 6 would be 1740 lb. Trimester 3 of gestation is approximately 95 days, so the time from weaning day until calving season would be around 300 days. The time from weaning day till breeding would depend on the breeding schedule, but assuming a breeding schedule of 60 days, the time from weaning day till breeding would be around 265 days. To gain one BCS score, cows typically need to gain around 80-100 lb. The cows are currently at BCS 5 and need to gain one BCS score, so they would need to gain approximately 80-100 lb from weaning to breeding. Assuming a 265-day period, the cows would need to gain around 0.3-0.4 lb per day to achieve this weight gain.