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Diurnal Variation in Weight and Rates of Shrink of Range Cows and Calves
Author
Heitshmidt, R. K.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1982-11-01
Body

Cow-calf pairs were weighed on successive mornings to determine the effects of time on total weight. Early morning weights of mature Hereford/Angus crossbred cows were approximately 2.5% less than late morning weights in both the spring and summer. Weights of suckling calves were not significantly different between early and late morning. Linear regression analyses indicated drylot shrink weights of cows were primarily a function of length of time of shrink. Rate of weight loss was approximately 1% every 3 hours after an initial 3 hour loss of 3.5%. Secondary factors were status of cow (dry or wet), relative humidity (%), season (spring or summer) and initial cow weight. Shrink rates were slightly greater for wet cows than dry cows; when relative humidity was low; during spring; and for lighter weight cows. Rates of shrink of calves were primarily related to size of calf with calves weighing less than 53 kg (117 lb) gaining weight and calves weighing more than 53 kg losing weight. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3898247
Additional Information
Heitschmidt, R. K. (1982). Diurnal variation in weight and rates of shrink of range cows and calves. Journal of Range Management, 35(6), 717-720.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645992
Journal Volume
35
Journal Number
6
Journal Pages
717-720
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
Time of Day
Rates of Shrink
Cow Calf Pairs
Texas Experimental Ranch
Wet
diurnal variation
Rolling Plains
Weight Loss
Morning
humidity
summer
weight
spring