Applying the Concept of Relative Age Effect to Our Calf Crop

– Pedro L. P. Fontes, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Simple concept: the earlier they’re born the more pay weight there will be.

The Relative Age Effect is a term commonly used to describe how child athletes born early in the academic year tend to perform at a higher level than those born later. For example, softball athletes born between May and August are 40% more likely to play college softball compared with players born between September and December. Similarly, hockey players born between May and August are 56% more likely to play in college compared with athletes born between September and December. This disadvantage can likely be explained by the fact that those who are older are typically more physically, emotionally, or cognitively developed than those that are younger.

Interestingly, similar differences are observed when we evaluate performance records of our calf crops. Steer calves that are born in the beginning of the calving season have more time to gain weight between calving and weaning compared with steers born later in the calving season. Consequently, these steers are heavier at weaning compared with their counterparts. Research from the University of Nebraska indicates that steers born in the first 21 days of the calving season were 32 pounds heavier than those born in the . . .

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