We may all be missing the boat, by not raising Corrientes!

Gather App
UnlistMe
Inventry
alacowman1 said:
In the south with the majority herd numbers,where there's around 25 head, and calving year round..unvaccinated and non castrated no backgrounding..those buyer know what's ahead of them once bought and get the once over.. The Stress from being weaned on the hwy.and being cut and vaccinated ..starting on feed .. the trip out to feedlots to acclimate.you can have the right calf ..just completely mismanaged..
Click to expand...
There were always 3-4 "buyers" at the weekly sales: Rome on Wednesday, Calhoun on Thurs, and what used to be the biggest sale in Ga, Cartersville on Saturday. They all lived in the area, maybe 45 minutes from these barns. Every week when it came time to sell the "weigh cattle", they would buy steers and heifers that were obviously weaned for a while, and they'd call out the name of the pen they wanted them in: Hardee's, BK, Winn Dixie.. whoever they were getting up a truck load for. They had cards that represented a cattle trailer. When they bought one, they would call out which pen to put it in, then write the weight of each one on the card. Once they had a trailer full, weight wise, they'd start another card...and pen. Whenever they bought one that was bawling its eyes out for its momma.. had been weaned when it got to the barn that morning,. they'd tell the auctioneer" gimme a pen". If they filled that pen up, they'd get another, etc. If you went back to the barn that night or the next morning to get your check, you'd see them with those calves being run through the chute where the vet had been that morning... worming and tagging and I guess vaccinating.. at least they were given an antibiotic shot. These calves went back to the buyer';s farms. I never asked for how long, but I imagine they'd get them weaned and eating good and gaining weight, and ship them to the mid-west from there.

In 1989, Budweiser built a plant north of Cartersville. A friend of mine and Lowry's got a contract to haul off the mash after the beer was processed. They PAID him to haul it off. Mike had always raised silage for his cows ( he said he made himself a promise when he was a kid hauling hay with his dad, that he'd never touch a bale again after he growed up). He also cleaned out chicken houses for folks. So, he made some concrete troughs and had this mixer he'd put a loader bucket of silage, one of chicken litter and one of the mash in,. and had a wagon he pulled behind a tractor that would auger this stuff into the troughs as he drove by.

I dunno exactly how it worked as far as how you paid him, but he would get people's weaned calves. ( around here, 400-450 lbs is the weight at which calves bring the most per pound at the sale, so people would wean according to weight more so than age), take then to his place and tag, worm, vaccinate, and castrate if needed, then he'd feed them this mixture for a time... 30, 45, maybe 60 days.. I don't remember, then he'd ship them to a lot in Oklahoma where they fed them for a period of time. I think you paid the Oklahoma lot by the pounds they gained. Mike gets paid to haul off the mash, paid to haul off the chicken litter, so all he had money it rally, was the silage, so I don;lt think hje chaartges al that much to condition these calves. So, I don't think anyone has ever bought trailer weaned calves from around here, and sent them directly to a feed lot on an 18-wheeler. I'd think you'd end up with too many dead, sick and stunted.

He has a thousand acres, and half or more he uses to raise the silage. But, guess what he has been doing for the last 12 years or so? His pastures are full of Corriente cows, and Florida Scrub cows, that he breeds to black angus bulls!!! He doesn't custom feed for folks anymore...just his own Angus x Criollo calves these days.
 
Last edited:
Rydero said:
For simplicity sake look at it this way. They gain on their momma's too (probably better) but take the feed and gain out of it. Vaccines coat money and so does working cattle (one way or another). Do they pay more /lb for the weaned calves where you are? A 600lb calf here seems to pay the same here, weaned or.not, so they don't pay me to wean.
Click to expand...
Totally get what your saying. I generally keep mine 90 days. I’ve seen decent gains, but a price drop eat it all up.
 
Bigfoot said:
Totally get what your saying. I generally keep mine 90 days. I’ve seen decent gains, but a price drop eat it all up.
Click to expand...
That’s the thing we run into too, seems like more often than not by time they reach back grounding time period the price has dropped and negates any premiums they bring at that point.
 
Ky hills said:
That’s the thing we run into too, seems like more often than not by time they reach back grounding time period the price has dropped and negates any premiums they bring at that point.
Click to expand...
I am sort of caught in a trap, we have always followed a minimum 45 day, or more, weaning protocol and we have a reputation for doing so at the Owenton sale barn. My in-laws sold there for many years before they passed and I got involved so I’ve stuck with their program. Can’t say it pays but something feels good when Ricky calls the sale and tells the buyers where the calves came from and mentions my mother in law by name. I know she would be so happy to hear it. Maybe she can?
 
When I have bought feeders (stockers) most times I have had pretty good survival rates may have lost 3 over the coarse of several years out of 40-60 head some years. I would treat anywhere from 2-3 to probably 15 for what we call shipping fever. Some years, we gave them Draxxin when initially worked, I think that did cut down on sickness. In more recent years, I bought 20 or so 500 or a little bigger heifers from a preconditioned/vaccination program sale. They did seem to start off easier and with less need tor treatment. I attribute a lot of that to the fact that they were already weaned and knew what it was to eat feed thus making the transition less stressful on them. To my knowledge I just lost one of those, and always figured it was one that they seller had fudged the facts on and had not been weaned and or vaccinated. Did get a few that bawled a lot for calves that were weaned.
Going back around 40 years ago give or take, my parents always ran about 75-100 or so feeders at a given time brought in around 400lbs or a little over. In those days they were likely all right off the cow. They had quite a bit of sickness with them at times, and most years lost one or two. I don't remember a lot of details of each time, but one year they lost 4.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
I haven’t had time to read this entire thread but around here people that can’t make money with commercial cattle always seem to move to Corrienti cattle and run an Angus bull with them. They seem really excited about it for the first year or so but before long it’s the same old story about how cattle can’t make any money. The same folks that do this have the same outlook on weaning also. I have several friends that run Corrienti cattle, it’s always interesting trying to pen them that’s for sure.
 
If you don't have a set of scales, you will never know if you can make money pre-conditioning your animals. If you are selling at a sale that feeds the cattle before they enter the ring, the real money you make is in the absence of shrink.
Folks don't understand how much they lose with a unweaned calf taken on a warm day to a sale barn the day before the sale. They scoff when I tell them a 600 lb'er will lose 50 lbs or $75 per head. That is probably on the low side.
Pencil shrink is another rip off and something I would never allow. A good weaned healthy calf will lose 5% loading and shipping but will regain that 5% an hour after it is unloaded provided it has fresh water and something to eat. An unweaned calf will lose 10% and it will take at least a week probably two to gain it back.
 
Lucky said:
I haven’t had time to read this entire thread but around here people that can’t make money with commercial cattle always seem to move to Corriente cattle and run an Angus bull with them. They seem really excited about it for the first year or so but before long it’s the same old story about how cattle can’t make any money. The same folks that do this have the same outlook on weaning also. I have several friends that run Corriente cattle, it’s always interesting trying to pen them that’s for sure.
Click to expand...
Uh yes, some Corriente's do enjoy taking the scenic route to the corral. And um, some youngsters (yearlings) do seem to enjoy hopping over fences just because they can, even when there is no grass on the other side. :cool:
 
I haven't read all the comments on this thread but have read several, I'll share my experience with LH/ Corriente cattle. My circumstances are a little different as I don't sell at sale barn, everything is finished here and sold on quarters so color doesn't matter. I bought 5 LH/ Corriente type cows 2 years ago for $1900 for all 5, 4 were bred to a black baldy bull and one got bred to my Ultra blak bull after I got them. Of the 4 that were out of the black baldy 2 were BMF, one was RMF and the other was spotted. The one out of my ultra black was skunk backed. The calves probably weighed between 400-500 lbs at weaning and the calves were around 8 months old. The cows weighed between 700-1000. I sold one of the BMF heifers at weaning for $450. I butchered 2 others at 14 months old and 16 months old, they hung around 460 lbs on the rail. I sold them for $2.75/lb. on the rail + processing. I probably fed those 2 $400 worth of feed between them to get them to finish. So roughly $2500 gross - $400 feed= $2100 net + $450 for heifer I sold= $2550. I still have 2 steers that will be butchered in December from that first set of calves, I haven't pushed them on feed like those first 2, I'm letting them grow more on grass with a little feed until the last 90 days. The 2 that will be butchered in December are already bigger than the first 2 that we butchered, they'll be 17 months and 20 months old when butchered. Out of that 460lbs hanging weight we averaged 95-100lbs of actual boxed meat, alot less loss than with bigger framed cattle. Customers like the size of the steaks better also, steaks are good and tender with decent marbling. The cows eat 3-4 round bales a winter each @ $25/ bale so $75-$100/ cow. I only worm one if it looks wormy.

Fast forward to this spring, had one solid black calf, one skunk backed, one sorry looking spotted one that looks full longhorn. We lost one cow and calf that got a shoulder hung up, that calf was as spotted as any longhorn as well. One cow that calved late last year didn't breed back in the window that we had the bull turned in, didn't wean her calf until April. We're about to grind her up, she had a bad bag anyway. I've got takers on the ground beef off of her for $1.75/lb hanging weight+ processing, guessing her at 800lbs, butcher guesses she'll hang around 450 lbs (so $787.5 my part) and he guessed she'll yield around 350 lbs boxed meat.
We lost one of the other cows to what we think might've been Johnie's disease, so after we butcher that other cow we'll be down to 2 LH type cows.

My point in this long post is they have been very profitable for me but my situation is alot different than most. To make a profit on them you have to find an angle that works. Not everyone needs to go out and buy corriente or LH cows, the calves are not going to be as good as full beef calves and are not going to be as big. The ones I put on full feed young and butchered already did not convert feed as well as a full beef calf would. In my situation they have been profittable but I wouldn't go buy 100 of them and run the calves and cull cows through the sale barn expecting it to come out the same way. They are very hardy cows that are super gentle and easy to work with. Would I buy more? Sure, but only a few here and there, just what I can direct market.
 
He was young in that picture. He got broad through the shoulders when he was about a year old and had ecent hindquarters for a pineywood. I bought him to breed 2 young heifers. He missed one and she ended up being bred by my hereford a few months later. I’m hoping i don’t have to pull that calf.
 
Little Joe said:
I haven't read all the comments on this thread but have read several, I'll share my experience with LH/ Corriente cattle. My circumstances are a little different as I don't sell at sale barn, everything is finished here and sold on quarters so color doesn't matter. I bought 5 LH/ Corriente type cows 2 years ago for $1900 for all 5, 4 were bred to a black baldy bull and one got bred to my Ultra blak bull after I got them. Of the 4 that were out of the black baldy 2 were BMF, one was RMF and the other was spotted. The one out of my ultra black was skunk backed. The calves probably weighed between 400-500 lbs at weaning and the calves were around 8 months old. The cows weighed between 700-1000. I sold one of the BMF heifers at weaning for $450. I butchered 2 others at 14 months old and 16 months old, they hung around 460 lbs on the rail. I sold them for $2.75/lb. on the rail + processing. I probably fed those 2 $400 worth of feed between them to get them to finish. So roughly $2500 gross - $400 feed= $2100 net + $450 for heifer I sold= $2550. I still have 2 steers that will be butchered in December from that first set of calves, I haven't pushed them on feed like those first 2, I'm letting them grow more on grass with a little feed until the last 90 days. The 2 that will be butchered in December are already bigger than the first 2 that we butchered, they'll be 17 months and 20 months old when butchered. Out of that 460lbs hanging weight we averaged 95-100lbs of actual boxed meat, alot less loss than with bigger framed cattle. Customers like the size of the steaks better also, steaks are good and tender with decent marbling. The cows eat 3-4 round bales a winter each @ $25/ bale so $75-$100/ cow. I only worm one if it looks wormy.

Fast forward to this spring, had one solid black calf, one skunk backed, one sorry looking spotted one that looks full longhorn. We lost one cow and calf that got a shoulder hung up, that calf was as spotted as any longhorn as well. One cow that calved late last year didn't breed back in the window that we had the bull turned in, didn't wean her calf until April. We're about to grind her up, she had a bad bag anyway. I've got takers on the ground beef off of her for $1.75/lb hanging weight+ processing, guessing her at 800lbs, butcher guesses she'll hang around 450 lbs (so $787.5 my part) and he guessed she'll yield around 350 lbs boxed meat.
We lost one of the other cows to what we think might've been Johnie's disease, so after we butcher that other cow we'll be down to 2 LH type cows.

My point in this long post is they have been very profitable for me but my situation is alot different than most. To make a profit on them you have to find an angle that works. Not everyone needs to go out and buy corriente or LH cows, the calves are not going to be as good as full beef calves and are not going to be as big. The ones I put on full feed young and butchered already did not convert feed as well as a full beef calf would. In my situation they have been profittable but I wouldn't go buy 100 of them and run the calves and cull cows through the sale barn expecting it to come out the same way. They are very hardy cows that are super gentle and easy to work with. Would I buy more? Sure, but only a few here and there, just what I can direct market.
Click to expand...
And you could have done similar with any breed or cross.
 
I looked at the sales report for 3 weekly sales barns here in GA. Last week, steers in the 500-599 weight class were in the $1.50"s. ...$.158, $1.52 and $1.52. If you are in a western or mid-western state or Canada, where people do condition their calves, sell them in trailer loads, where the barns run them through in groups instead of one at a time, would you look at the reports for last week and see what the steers in this weight class sold at? Reckon there are any steers that were weaned and conditioned for 45-90 days that would weigh 500-599? Those steers my friend sold weighed 500 to 540 lbs. If he had weaned them and fed them out for 90 days before selling, I just wonder if they wouldn't be over 599 lbs? If a 500 lb black steer down here...trailer weaned, no vaccines etc, brought $1.58, and a 500 lb steer from an area that they were conditioned, vaccinate and sell in groups brought $1.75 last week, that would have been $85 more money. How much would it have cost to vaccinate, and feed him for 90 days?
 
Last week at one of the stockyards we sell at, there was a group of 15 steers weighing 581 sold as value added ie. weaned and vaccinated brought $1.65.
Comparable weight calves that were not value added brought from $1.46-1.50. Another factor is that there were only 7 of those in that weight range and likely brought in as singles or possibly 2 or 3 by the same seller.
Pretty confident none of those calves were corriente or corriente crosses.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top