Caustic Burno said:
JMJ Farms said:
Caustic Burno said:
Not really, the dam returned nothing to the bottom line for two years along with the retained heifer.
Using a dollar a day upkeeps and that is cheap you have 1460 bucks in that heifer. That's not counting another 205 days until the heifers return a dollar back to the operation, using the same dollar you now have 1665 dollars in her.
If she falls over dead there is no other write off in her as she is retained and other than upkeep, she has no value unless sold.
While I agree that it's cheaper to buy bred cows than to retain heifers, I also understand the benefit of retaining genetics and longevity from your best cows. I compensate by doing some of both.
CB, I don't completely agree with your figures. The dam didn't return anything for (1) year. Her next calf is in the pipeline as it would have been. So you only lose that one calf, the retained heifer calf. So, using your figures, that would be $730(+)$205(=)$935. Which is probably a little conservative. I haven't tried to figure it exactly but I think it would probably be closer to $1100.
And I will add.... If there is a good source for replacement cows or heifers that will make good momma cows close by, then I'd be all for buying instead of retaining. If for no other reason than the fact that it's much faster and we are all on borrowed time. Problem is they are hard to come by HERE without paying double what they're worth.
Better check your math if you retain the Dam was maintained two years, returning nothing to the operation.
The heifer will not return anything either for two years.
If the dam bred back the day she calved the retained heifer it would be 283 days before she calves again.
My math is good. We just aren't on the same page.
Scenario 1 - Normal terminal calves
Day 1 - Cow is bred
Day 283 - Cow calves
Day 373 - Cow breeds back
Day 488 - Calf is weaned and sold
Day 508 - Cow calves again
Day 713 - 2nd Calf is sold
Scenario 2 - Heifer is retained
Day 1 - Cow is bred
Day 283 - Cow calves
Day 373 - Cow breeds back
Day 488- Heifer is retained
Day 508 - Cow calves again
Day 713 - 2nd Calf is sold
Nothing changes with the exception of the fact that with terminal calves, you sold (2) calves in 713 days. With the retained heifer, you sold (1) calf in 713 days. You only "lose" income attributable to one calf, the retained heifer. So the very most $ you can attribute to feeding the dam would be
488 days, and this wouldn't be completely accurate. But let's say it is.
According to your number of $1/day.....
Dam - 488 days @ $1/day = $488
Heifer from birth till calving - 730 days @ $1/day = $730
$488 (+) $730 = $1228
My numbers would be more like this.
Dam - 365 days @ $1.25/day = $456.25
Heifer from birth to weaning - 205 days at .50/day = 102.50
Heifer from weaning to calving - 525 days @ $1/day = $525.
$456.25 (+) $102.50 (+) $525 = $1083.75.
These numbers are all hypothetical and really don't matter, because point is that you can only attribute the maintenance cost of the dam for (1) year, to the cost of the replacement heifer.
This post is in no way intended to be rude, disrespectful, or anything of the sort. If I'm wrong in my figuring, someone please correct me.
Edited to add:
If good replacements are readily available, I still believe you are better off to take the $ the retained heifer would have brought at the sale barn on weaning day, let's assume $750 (+) the the $525 it's gonna take to feed her until she calves, and buy heavy bred cows. Money will come back lots quicker.