Several people responded to last week’s PCC Update by asking, “How can you look at a cow’s neck and know that she has missed having a calf or two?” What I am looking for is the presence or absence of a ewe neck. In cattle, a ewe neck refers to a thin, concave neck, closely resembling the natural neck structure of a female sheep (ewe).
Most people would say a ewe neck is a conformational defect. It is in dogs and horses – but it is a very good thing in a brood cow. A well formed ewe neck is a key indicator of a cow’s hormonal balance, functional efficiency, fertility, and lifetime productivity.
Last week, I told you about a herd of 12 cows with only three calves. That is only a 25% calf crop! When I got a closer look, I did not see any cows with a well-defined ewe neck. Several had the exact opposite – a thick, convex neck. That almost always indicates that a cow has missed one or more calves.
The cow pictured above is a sub-fertile cow that has probably missed at least two calves. She has a thick, convex neck – like a bull. Notice her level hip. If she did get bred, it would be difficult for her calf to find its way out. Ironically, as I drive around the country, I see a lot of bulls that don’t look as masculine as this cow.
Above is a picture of my Y1040 cow. She is still going at 15 years of age. She has a very well-defined concave ewe neck. She has been an extremely productive cow. Not surprisingly, Y1040 is in the pedigree of at least 10 of our AI sires. Notice her wedge shape and sloped hips. She would get kicked out of most showrings – but she is exactly the type of cow most ranchers need.
Quote Worth Re-Quoting
“The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.” ~ Abraham Maslow
Share this Post