Cow Efficiency

If we are to discuss cow efficiency, perhaps we should define the term so that everyone is thinking about the same thing. Efficiency is usually thought of as a relationship between input and output and is frequently calculated as a ratio of either one to the other. We have used pounds of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) required to produce a pound of product either at weaning or at slaughter. The TDN input is that consumed by the cow for the year from weaning to weaning plus the consumption of the calf from birth to weaning or slaughter. In our situation, calf consumption to weaning is creep consumption. In the producer\u27s situation, it is grass consumed plus creep consumption if it is used