What do they weigh? (Pics!)

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gcreekrch said:
We successful old codgers started somewhere too. Neither Kenny nor I were born with silver spoons. We didn't get where we are by being lazy and bullheaded.
For the sake of five minutes and maybe $10 per calf you could have realized another 150 to 200 per calf. That is what it takes to make ends meet. Work.
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Your point is well taken on this end and I do infact plan to implement many suggestions from this group of well experienced folks.

For what's worth, I am pretty confident there isn't 150$ spread on any Corriente calves, so I probably am not missing that much on these particular calves. And my decision to leave their nuts was not from a position of laziness or bullheaded-ness. I did the mental math; does the possible gain in sale price outweigh the risk of this cow (whose personality I don't know) pummeling me into the ground while I try to work her calf in the middle of a field? The answer I derived is obvious from the pictures.

Future me will probably band at birth.
 
MurraysMutts said:
@wobbie1775
I was gonna edit that post but I'll just add here.

Yes, I like to buy your kind as well. I'd dehorn, cut the bulls, and worm em. There is a little money to be made. But not for me, this time of year. I like that kind in the spring when grass is just coming on. This time of year, it'll cost more to do that. And everyone else knows that too. THAT is why they will be a bit cheaper when they sell.

BUT I have a place to wean em and plentiful grass etc. It sounds like u don't have that available right now. It would COST you money and I'm not sure the return would be profitable for you on just a few head. The juice ain't worth the squeeze as they say. I know, I've done it. That is why I steer em when born! I don't wanna fool with holding them later if I decide I need to sell em for some reason.

Like you, I've always listened to others. Then pretty much did whatever I wanted anyway. Those ideas I listened to, came in very much handy the next go round.

When do they sell??
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Don't know yet. We got rain...and I would like to keep them gaining on the dams longer...so for now we don't have a planned trip to the auction. We got a bunch of rain between when I originally posted and now, so they are getting to stay a little longer. This will be where I post the results. Hopefully I can keep em growing for a while.
 
Even $50 a calf is a good hourly rate in my world. Understand if you’ve little experience your concern of protective mother. I don’t worry about them much as we know or can read the bad ones and the quad puts the fear of man in them pretty quick. When we are calving I process up to 40 newborns a day for several weeks. Most take less than 30 seconds to tag, band and give an intra nasal vaccine.
 
gcreekrch said:
Even $50 a calf is a good hourly rate in my world. Understand if you've little experience your concern of protective mother. I don't worry about them much as we know or can read the bad ones and the quad puts the fear of man in them pretty quick. When we are calving I process up to 40 newborns a day for several weeks. Most take less than 30 seconds to tag, band and give an intra nasal vaccine.
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No quads on this property lol. More goals. I know talented folks can do it and reduce the chances of being a cow's hood ornament, we just aren't there yet.
 
wobbie1775 said:
Don't know yet. We got rain...and I would like to keep them gaining on the dams longer...so for now we don't have a planned trip to the auction. We got a bunch of rain between when I originally posted and now, so they are getting to stay a little longer. This will be where I post the results. Hopefully I can keep em growing for a while.
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That would change my game plan!
If I was gonna hold em a month more, I'd band AND de-horn now. Wedge em in a gate corner and tie a big fat rope behind em while I work. Great fun!!

But I get it...
 
wobbie1775 said:
I did the mental math; does the possible gain in sale price outweigh the risk of this cow (whose personality I don't know) pummeling me into the ground while I try to work her calf in the middle of a field?
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Well that's something you might benefit from learning too... Anybody with cattle needs a place to work them. I've seen 20X20 corrals where the only water that's available makes sure the cows have to visit, and a chute attached on one side so the animals can be worked, that were perfectly functional and simple and cheap to build. Make the gate swing the right direction and you can cut out the calf from the cow and not be playing patty cake with an angry cow.
 
MurraysMutts said:
That would change my game plan!
If I was gonna hold em a month more, I'd band AND de-horn now. Wedge em in a gate corner and tie a big fat rope behind em while I work. Great fun!!

But I get it...
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What method do you use for dehorning? bands? Scoop? Sawzall? Grenade?
 
wobbie1775 said:
What method do you use for dehorning? bands? Scoop? Sawzall? Grenade?
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I used a chainsaw once. I don't recommend it. I've recently learned that you can band horns and I'd like to try that...

The best dehorning technique I've come across is using a polled bull.
 
Travlr said:
I used a chainsaw once. I don't recommend it. I've recently learned that you can band horns and I'd like to try that...

The best dehorning technique I've come across is using a polled bull.
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Got one of those. These calves were already in the oven when I got the cows.

Not sure if he is homo-polled... Anyone know how to figure that out?
 
wobbie1775 said:
Got one of those. These calves were already in the oven when I got the cows.

Not sure if he is homo-polled... Anyone know how to figure that out?
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Get the name and number of his sire and dam off his papers, and look them up on the registry's website. If you can't do that, then a DNA test will tell you. And of course it will be too late then, but if he sires any horned calves, he is not homo polled.
 
wobbie1775 said:
Your comment is not personal at all lol. And I am a big boy and got into this business knowing that I know little and need to learn a lot.

These calves are from 700$ cows, all purchased in the last 9 months. So, I think, in general they will not bring a bunch of money but they 'should' pay for thier dams. If I had bought...lets say 4 year old black angus bred cows in the last 9 months... There are zero versions of reality where a single calf will pay for the dam.
😂
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I paid $1,225 for good older cows. A lot of broken mouth but also a number of spread mouth cows. Those spread mouth cows could have been good for 2 or 3 more calves. The bigger (earlier born) calves sold for $1,736 on the steers and $1,539 on the heifers. They not only paid for the cows but also for a lot of feed. Why buy a 4 year old cow? Why is a cow that young at the sale? Generally an older cow is there because of her age. She will know how to raise a calf. And if that is the business you want to do, her heifer might very well be one to keep.
 
Dave said:
I paid $1,225 for good older cows. A lot of broken mouth but also a number of spread mouth cows. Those spread mouth cows could have been good for 2 or 3 more calves. The bigger (earlier born) calves sold for $1,736 on the steers and $1,539 on the heifers. They not only paid for the cows but also for a lot of feed. Why buy a 4 year old cow? Why is a cow that young at the sale? Generally an older cow is there because of her age. She will know how to raise a calf. And if that is the business you want to do, her heifer might very well be one to keep.
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I'm not familiar with the term "spread mouth" so I googled it and came up with this: A cow with a spread mouth may be experiencing symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease, yada, yada, yada...

I know that's not what you are buying so I'm assuming your use of the words is a local thing. The auctions I've been around mark cattle SS for short and solid and BM for broken mouth. I'd buy both because they would raise good calves and stay in good condition.

So what is a "spread mouth" where you are?
 
wobbie1775 said:
Glad to hear it. I understand it's a big boy world out there and old codgers usually aren't capable of seeing the world through any lens other than thier own. Bless your opinion also 😘.
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I mean this in a good way so please take it as such.
Old codgers that have been successful can teach young people how not to make a lot of mistakes. Many times we have made the same mistakes 50 years ago. I went and heard Temple speak last year and learned a couple of things. So we can always learn.
I buy most of the Longhorn and Corriente calves that sell here. Nobody wants them as bull calves but they are quite popular as steers for penning and roping. I buy them, castrate them, make a phone call, and sell them for a profit. Most times the same day.
Not Corriente, but i knife cut a few calves today. As always by myself. How many young people do you know that does that? Im only 67, on a cane most of the time, but i have a pretty good bit of knowledge to share if anyone wants to learn. But i will listen also. Might call BS afterwards but i will listen.
So a word of advice, pay attention and listen to the old codgers.
 
Warren Allison said:
Get the name and number of his sire and dam off his papers, and look them up on the registry's website. If you can't do that, then a DNA test will tell you. And of course it will be too late then, but if he sires any horned calves, he is not homo polled.
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If it has papers it should say if its homo polled.
 
kenny thomas said:
I mean this in a good way so please take it as such.
Old codgers that have been successful can teach young people how not to make a lot of mistakes. Many times we have made the same mistakes 50 years ago. I went and heard Temple speak last year and learned a couple of things. So we can always learn.
I buy most of the Longhorn and Corriente calves that sell here. Nobody wants them as bull calves but they are quite popular as steers for penning and roping. I buy them, castrate them, make a phone call, and sell them for a profit. Most times the same day.
Not Corriente, but i knife cut a few calves today. As always by myself. How many young people do you know that does that? Im only 67, on a cane most of the time, but i have a pretty good bit of knowledge to share if anyone wants to learn. But i will listen also. Might call BS afterwards but i will listen.
So a word of advice, pay attention and listen to the old codgers.
Click to expand...
I am here to do such listening. Doesn't mean I will take jabs sans response. I am here (and have been here for 10 years) as a testament to all the wisdom available. I have gone from city living in Yuma AZ to over 250 acres in MO and 20ish cows in less than 1 year. Raising a family of 6 kids, full time "real job" and haven't financed 1 thing in the cattle operation. Many of these accomplishments (and my goals for the business) are from things lessons learned here. Not a brag or an attempt to have any fanfare...just stating the reality. We are moving fast. And if one has been in the business for a long time they may, periodically, forget what it was like to be starting out. With sub-par/non existent equipment, buying cows that are giant question marks, figuring out how grass grows, learning that cows don't just eat everything that is green, waterers freeze, wasps live in gates, milk replacer is expensive... I am sure I could go on. All those things I learned or am dealing with this year. For the first time. Ever. In my life. So if I miss some testicles along the way....
 

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