ABSTRACT
Optimum cow efficiency means different things to different people. Nutrition of the cow herd must provide enough for maintenance year-round. Then requirements for growth of replacement heifers and first calf cows must be added. Another need is for sufficient nutrition for producing the developing fetus and milk for the nursing calf. A final nutritional need is that for reproduction. Supplemental feeding of cows is important. It is much easier and cheaper to keep cows in proper condition, in terms of energy and minerals, than it are to try to catch up after get behind, needs vary from herd to herd, and year to year, depending on forage available. The second basic of optimum cattle efficiency is cattle breeding. Several items need to be considered when deciding what breed to use. Feed availability, growth rate, milk production, calving ease, climate, and market plan all affect this decision.
