Cow-Calf Production Indicators Calculator

Beef cattle producers can use the BCRC Cow-Calf Production Indicators Calculator to enter their own production numbers (only 15 numbers are needed) and compare them with an industry target and regional benchmark from the most recent regional cow-calf surveys.

Cow-Calf Production Indicators Calculator

NOTE: If an indicator is below the target or regional benchmark it does not necessarily mean that changing it will be beneficial. The cost:benefit of investing in changing each production indicator must be made on individual operations as they will vary and reflect one’s production system and enviornment that you operate in.

Step 1: Enter information in yellow highlighted cells

Step 2: Compare to the Industry Targets

Step 3: Compare to the Regional Benchmark (for cows)

Region Choose From drop-down list

TARGET

Western Canada

INDICATOR
Cow:Bull Ratio # Females Exposed 20:1 25 21
# Bulls used
Length of Calving Period (Last Calving Date – First Calving Date) 60-80 87
Conception Rate (% Pregnant) # Females Bred 92% 93% 92%
# Females Exposed 360
Calving Distribution
Calves Born 1-21 Days # Calves Born Day 1-21 76% 60% 55%
Calves Born 22-42 Days # Calves Born Day 22-42 19% 25% 30%
Calves Born 43-63 Days # Calves Born Day 42 – 63 4% 10% 30%
Calves Born 64+ Days # Calves Born Day 64+ 2% 5% 5%
Pregnancy Loss % # Females Aborted/Born Dead 41 12% 1% 4%
# Females Expected to Calve 330
Calving Rate (%) # Live Calves Born 88% 92% 87%
# Females Bred 330
Calf Death Loss % # Calves Died Before Wean 3% 4% 5%
# Live Calves Born 330
Calf Survival Rate # Calves Weaned 280 97% 95% 86%
# Live Calves Born 289
Weaning Rate (%) # Calves Weaned 78% 85% 85%
# Females Exposed 330
Average weaning weight (all calves) lbs N/A No Target 570
Lbs weaned/ Females Exposed Total Lbs Weaned 146440 407 460 533
# Females Exposed 360
Adjusted 205 day weaning weight Average age at weaning, days 553 N/A No Target N/A No Benchmark
Weight per day of age (lbs) Average weaning weight 523 1.75 N/A No Target N/A No Target
Average weaning age 299
Average WW as % of Cow Weight Total Lbs Weaned 550 39% 45% 45%
(adjusting bred heifer weight) Average Mature Cow Weight, lbs

GOLD Indicators

Your Numbers

Target

Regional Benchmark

Growth (weaning weight as % of cow weight) 50% 45% 45%
Open Cows (%) 8% 7% 8%
Length of Calving Period 72 60-80 8
Death Loss of Calves (%) 3% 4% 5%