Current Frame Size Trends

-XBAR- said:

Environmental specific phenotypes is a common fallacy.  Stocking rate is the variable.

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I've given this a lot of thought. Not just repeating what any given guru says, but trying to learn.
I agree about stockng rate being the determining factor in productivity.
But wouldn't stocking rate be the sum of many other variables?
My own idea is that some genotypes are better suited to growth and reproduction on poor soils than others. I look at old Shorthorn World magazines and see a pattern of riverside pastures with abundant shade. Good bottomland soil that is unsuited, topographically,to plowing.
Is the superior condition of the cattle in those pastures due to genotype, soil type or stocking rate.
Phenotype is kind of an empty term if it cannot be reproduced, but
Genotype will optomize itself according to conditions. Just my current thinking on environmentally
optimal phenotypes.

But back to Galloways and frame size. I understand Galloway to be a true breed with a deep genetic disposition to do well on poor soils. They have several environmental adaptations that contribute to their ability to grow and reproduce in marginal areas. Very moderate frame size is part of that survival strategy. With better feed the weight gain results can be dramatic.
But, once programmed to abundant resources performance out in the rough conditions may be less than dramatic. For this reason I would be cautious a about taking very good Galloway genetics, such as Xenon, and pushing for more frame.
Once the show people figure out what you've got you won't need to customize your animals to suit their moving targets. Just my 4 cents.

Librarian I think we view extensive cattle production through a similar lens.  Interestingly enough, the soils under our pastures are poor, too much clay making them easily droughty, as well as highly eroded (had the life farmed out of them way back in the mid 1900's) and thus mined out of a lot of minerals.  i tend to think that the cows that do well on our place will have progeny that will excel at a place with even marginally better soils.
Xenon was an ideal animal for our place. Easy keeping in spite of being well muscled. He is moderately framed, but we have noticed a strong tendency for him to not influence frame. At all. The calves pretty much get their dams frame. I tell people "if you like your frame, you can keep your frame". Lol.  ;D 
His 15 year old dam is still in production at another farm now, so there's obviously some longevity and fertility built into him.

-XBAR- said:

Environmental specific phenotypes is a common fallacy.  Stocking rate is the variable.

Click to expand...

I agree to a point.  I think you can take a frame score 4, 1250 lb. cow and put her in any environment that can support cattle and adjust the stocking rate as you suggest.  I am not sure that you can do that with an 1800 lb. Holstien.