The Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast: Tips for Creating Uniform Calf Crops
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Reference: Podcast Corner
Tips for Creating Uniform Calf Crops
February 9, 2026 | Written By Shaye Koester
When evaluating factors that impact ranch profitability and efficiency, producing uniform calf crops can’t be overlooked. “I think calf uniformity can be really important to the rancher,” says Emma Briggs, faculty supervisor for the research feedlot and the commercial cow herd for Kansas State University Ag Research Center located in Hayes, Kansas.
What does a uniform calf crop look like? It can start with the basics of frame size, weight and other phenotype characteristics, but that’s not the full story in today’s beef industry.
“Uniformity goes beyond just looking at necessarily appearance,” explains Briggs. “It also reflects things like reproductive success for replacement heifers and staying within that 365-day calving interval to be as efficient and productive as possible.”
Tight or planned calving intervals improve phenotype uniformity but bull selection can improve genotype uniformity for performance on and after the ranch.....
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