Recent content by Heronfish

It is an old joke, but is worth repeating. In 1974, you could sell a load of calves and buy a brand new 1974 pickup. In 2024, you can sell a load of calves . . . And buy a 1974 pickup

That would make far more sense than spending thousands on a bull just to send him down the road in a few years

Inbreeding or having to continually replace bulls is just another reason to avoid keeping your own heifers. This is on top of the fact it costs more to keep than buy and limiting yourself genetically.

The theory goes that a heifer appreciates in monetary from the time she is born until she is pregnant with her second calf. After that, she declines. Sounds well and good on paper. But means a lot of heifer calving and getting good breed back to make money.

We had an old girl around here. Finally sent her away last fall at the age of 16. Always brought in a good calf in the fall. Really the type of cow every one of us would want to have. But every year when she started to calve, she would spend hours claiming other calves as her own before she...

It could just be that cows aren't smart

We had one last year. Looked nearly identical to the one pictured other than it was tan. Luckily we were able to pull the calf as it came backwards. Mom and dad are getting it taxidermied. Which is repulsive, but that's another story.

Say you wean in November for spring calvers. That weaned heifer won't bring a calf to market for 2 years. A replacement cow purchased at the same time brings you a calf in one year. She returns a cost that quicker. Now to counter that, purchasing a replacement cow means buying a depreciating...

Heifers are a lot like draft picks/prospects in professional sports. It's human nature to envision great things on the future rather than live with the realities of the present. And like every sports team/fan base we always over value our prospects and criticize those belonging to others

Team is an online auction service in canada

I can't turn away from an argument. Character flaw. So your top steers averaged $2050. Good price. The team sale in Eastern alberta in 2023, the first steers on the page weighed 550 and averaged $2275 Convince yourself all you want and blow smoke for whoever needs it. Do whatever you need to...

I prefer to let you believe what you want. If you want to think those dollars are the best in western canada, give er. But market reports are pretty easy to find

When average can breed back, calve unassisted and raise a calf that hits 550-600 pounds in 200 days, I'll take average any day.

No what I'm saying is replacing maternal traits with those focused strictly on terminal growth isn't a good thing. Is this controversial around here?

This is the equivalent to me saying the sky here is blue and you replying that no it isn't, because it is night where you are. Adds absolutely nothing to any conversation.