************* said:
The quest is for carcass quality. If you are sending out steers that rank in the top 10% of the Angus breed for all major carcass traits, they gain fast on milk and grass alone and are out the door at 205-230 days as 7 or 8 weights. What is not to like? There have to be purebred Angus producers out west and up north that are pulling this very scenario off and getting paid handsomely. It sounds like a good business plan to me.
I still need some explanation on how a 1100-1200 pound cow with minimal inputs, grass and hay only is going to raise a 700-800 pound weanling? She would be a superstar if so, that's weaning almost 70% of her body weight! I can see 4 and 5 weights, but not 7-8's. Which means you have a lot more cattle going to reach the same amount of weight on the trailer.
Take an 1800 pound cow, weaning that 700 pounder is not the same feat. Am I right or wrong? If weaning weights don't matter, why do people focus so much on them? I don't see how you are a serious producer if you ignore them.
You don't get it do you?
My cow herd makes a profit per cow...…… If I want to increase weaning weights, it costs money and work to do that.
Back in the late 70's and early 80's, banks encouraged cattle producers to raise bigger calves to cover the horrendous interest rates being charged then. What they forgot to equate was the cost of raising those big calves. Again, bigger weaning weights cost money and time, lots of us are quite happy to be lazy and cheap...…...and prosperous.
I also have guys that buy my bulls that I am done with. I sold several 5 year olds in the past 2 years for $3000 a pop. Semen tested of course but used bulls at that. I guess others don't mind raising 500 lb calves either.
You still haven't told me what specifically was wrong with the management your Daddy and Grandaddy had that you feel the need to join and market other's genetics.