@conference {40626,
	title = {Managing the high performance beef cow herd - where to next?},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {54},
	year = {1994},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {315-318},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Historically, the breeding cow has established its place on New Zealand  
sheep and beef farms as a {\textquoteright}hardy{\textquoteright} animal, able to withstand the vagaries of  
climate and feed supply, and for {\textquoteright}cleaning-up{\textquoteright} rough pastures generally  
assisting output from the ewe flock - the main enterprise.  The cow has been  
particularly useful where contour or cost prevented cropping or conservation.   
In this context, pure breeds such as Angus or Hereford have served well.  The  
traditional role of the beef cow needs to be reviewed as farmers: 
- move to cross-breeding and use more {\textquoteright}productive{\textquoteright} breeds 
- have much higher expectations of beef income relative to sheep 
- increase their proportion of beef to sheep 
- develop their properties 
 
Data from the {\textquoteright}Limestone Downs{\textquoteright} property near Port Waikato is presented to  
show that this {\textquoteright}new{\textquoteright} cow in the {\textquoteright}new{\textquoteright} environment presents challenges and  
opportunities not earlier foreseen.  At Limestone Downs, three-way cross- 
breeding of the Angus herd started in 1984, with Hereford and Friesian bulls  
introduced.  At that time, average calf weaning weight was 180 kg.  In 1992 the  
last of the pure Angus cows weaned calves of 205 kg, with the 3-way cross  
cows weaning calves at 250 kg.  Mean cow liveweight of about 420 kg has not  
changed since 1984.  However, the liveweight of the cross-bred cows drops 34- 
40 kg between calving and weaning, whereas the Angus tended to stay  
constant.  Additional calf weaning weight has cost the cow liveweight which  
must be replaced before the following spring. 
 
With increased subdivision, pasture development and greater cattle numbers  
there is no longer the rough feed for cows to {\textquoteright}survive{\textquoteright} on.  This, coupled  
with a cow now bred to produce a heavy calf at weaning at the expense of her  
own body condition if necessary, can lead to re-breeding problems and high  
cow losses. 
 
What of the future?  We need to be clear about our expectations of the  
breeding cow, and perhaps accept that in the traditional role, the traditional  
cow needs only minor modifications.  At the other end of the spectrum however,  
in a situation where the cow is a direct competitor for feed, we need to consider  
a whole spectrum of options such as twinning, as these are developed and  
proven. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Lowe KI}
}
