K-State beef cattle experts offer new insights highlighting the tradeoffs between grazing larger versus smaller cows
MANHATTAN, Kan. — As the beef industry evolves, Kansas State University beef cattle experts say producers may benefit from rethinking long-held assumptions about cow size, milk production and grazing efficiency.
In a recent episode of the Cattle Chat podcast produced by the university’s Beef Cattle Institute, experts discussed how modern feedlot trends are influencing decisions at the cow–calf level — including whether bigger cows or smaller cows create more value on pasture.
One topic raised was whether weaning weight should remain the primary benchmark for cow–calf operations. With more calves moving earlier into backgrounding or short feeding periods, some producers may get better insight from the final sale weight according to the experts.
“Maybe it’s not weaning weight we should worry about; it’s sale weight,” beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said. “Earlier weaning paired with a short feeding period could change the long-term profitability picture.”
The specialists also questioned whether today’s larger, higher-milking cows best fit grass-based systems, where forage quality remains largely unchanged.
“Maybe we should be a lot smaller and lower milk production because that is (a lower) nutrient demand; our grass, the calories per bite, is the same now as it was a hundred years ago,” Lancaster said.
As mature cow size increases, so do maintenance requirements, which can shift stocking rates and pasture economics.
Still, the team acknowledged that bigger cows offer advantages in some environments, especially where affordable by-product feeds are available. K-State veterinarian Bob Larson noted that supplementing cows on pasture could help support larger, heavier-milking genetics.
The discussion reflects a broader industry trend as producers weigh cow size, feed resources, calf weights and profitability. T full conversation is available for free online on the Cattle Chat podcast.
