Is it possible for a 1,000 lb cow to have a 400 lb calf? This is my recollection from a fair I attended.?

Question

My cousin swears cows don't get to the weight of half a ton. But, and I'm going by my memory, but at the Michigan State Fair about 10-11 years ago, I witnessed the birth of a calf about 400 lbs (I think it was that weight) from a cow that weighed 1,000 lb (that weight I am positive of). Am I going crazy? Please tell me my cousin is wrong. Thank you, Dee

Answer 1

1,000 lbs is small for a mature cow though some of the smaller breeds (such as the Jersey) average that weight. The black & white Holsteins average close to 3/4 a ton (1,500) and a very large individual cow and most bulls will weigh a full ton. So your cozen is wrong- they do usually hit 1/2 a ton HOWEVER newborn claves weigh 70-90 maybe 100 lbs - when a 160 lb calf was born in my area it made the paper as a possible world record . A 400 lbs calf is either several months old or closly related to a pink elephant.- so that half is an error on your part.

Answer 2

I am sorry to tell you that a 1,000 lb cow cannot have a 400 lb calf. I have a dairy farm with my husband and the most a calf has ever weighed is 150 lbs.