Select Appropriate Animal Genetics

What happens here

The speaker contrasts large, 1400lb cows that wean 50% of their body weight with smaller, more efficient 1000lb cows that wean 60%. Smaller animals (like sheep) are even more efficient on grass. The focus is on 'grass genetics'—animals with fine bones, a large gut for processing forage, and less 'leg' (height), as more leg leads to inefficiency on grass. These animals are naturally designed to thrive solely on forage. Soil nutrient testing plays a supporting role by providing data on the land's capacity to produce high-quality forage without supplemental grain, thus guiding the selection of animal genetics that are best suited to the land's natural productivity and nutrient profile.

Goal: Choosing the right animal genetics for a grass-fed system is crucial for efficiency and profitability. Soil nutrient testing indirectly supports this by identifying the carrying capacity and nutritional output of the land, helping match genetics to the environment.