Bought cows today

[Dave]

Compared to last week today was a pretty short sale. I got 2 cows bought. When I got home I glanced at the brand release paper. Right off I noticed something. One of the cows I bought came from a neighbor. A lightning C connected on the left rib. We will have to make sure we get that cow branded and ear tagged before turning her out. The majority of his cows are black. This one is a Char cow with tipped off horns. I am sure he would recognize her as one he sold. And I called him to let him know I bought his cow. She is a bit thin. I don't know how long she was up in the hills dining on charcoal.

 

[A.J.]

Folks dont brand around here, so I don't know how all that works. When you sell branded cattle there do you have to do paperwork to release them to the new owner, then do new paperwork when you put your brand on her? Did your neighbor give you any history on her or say why he sold her?

 

[CowboyRam]

Folks dont brand around here, so I don't know how all that works. When you sell branded cattle there do you have to do paperwork to release them to the new owner, then do new paperwork when you put your brand on her? Did your neighbor give you any history on her or say why he sold her?

She was probably culled for age. Dave buys mostly broken mouth cows. Some cows can have several brands on them, and sometimes it gets tough to find a place to put your brand. My brand goes on the the left hip, and I can't put it any other place.

 

[Katpau]

When you sell a cow with a brand at the sale barn, you need to present a "change of ownership brand inspection exemption and transportation certificate". This will be signed by the owner of the brand. You should receive this form from the seller when you purchase the animal. I assume you would get that paperwork from the sale barn, if she is purchased at a sale. I don't know that for sure, since I have not bought a cow at a sale barn in years. If you don't have that information, you will likely need to wait until the brand inspector is able to verify your ownership by contacting the owner of the brand before the sale barn issues you a check.

 

[C-Ranch]

Compared to last week today was a pretty short sale. I got 2 cows bought. When I got home I glanced at the brand release paper. Right off I noticed something. One of the cows I bought came from a neighbor. A lightning C connected on the left rib. We will have to make sure we get that cow branded and ear tagged before turning her out. The majority of his cows are black. This one is a Char cow with tipped off horns. I am sure he would recognize her as one he sold. And I called him to let him know I bought his cow. She is a bit thin. I don't know how long she was up in the hills dining on charcoal.

What were cows prices up your way this time of year?

 

[Dave]

What were cows prices up your way this time of year?

I have about a $1370 average into 37 cows. I have been to bred cow specials where gummers sold for $1,800-1,900. I kept my hands in my pockets. Solid mouth cows are $2,000-2,100. That is for Feb-March calving cows. Later calving are a little less.

 

[C-Ranch]

You did okay then at $1370 avg. on bred cows. That is a # that a person can make work. $1800 and up makes it a little tougher. I'd keep my hands deep in my pockets as well at those prices. Of course it makes a guy wish he had a load to sell at those higher prices.

 

[Dave]

Folks dont brand around here, so I don't know how all that works. When you sell branded cattle there do you have to do paperwork to release them to the new owner, then do new paperwork when you put your brand on her? Did your neighbor give you any history on her or say why he sold her?

I bought her at the sale. The neighbor didn't answer his phone so I left him a message. The sale runs bred cows through the chute. They mouth all the cows. They called her a broken mouth cow. The majority of that neighbors ground burned up in the fire. I imagine he is cutting back on older cows. The brand inspectors at the sale give you a brand release paper. Once you put your own brand on a cow that becomes the valid brand. You can toss the release papers although I just put them in a pile. I should go through that pile because all of last year's cows long since went to the kill plant. I never have to or can do any paperwork. That is all done by the state brand inspectors. If I were to sell one private I have to have the brand inspector come to my place, inspect the critter, and issue a release which shows me selling the animal and lists the new owner. That can be expensive for a single animal because there is a fee which includes mileage. Doing it at the sale cost about $1.50 a head and they take care of everything.

 

[CowboyRam]

I bought her at the sale. The neighbor didn't answer his phone so I left him a message. The sale runs bred cows through the chute. They mouth all the cows. They called her a broken mouth cow. The majority of that neighbors ground burned up in the fire. I imagine he is cutting back on older cows. The brand inspectors at the sale give you a brand release paper. Once you put your own brand on a cow that becomes the valid brand. You can toss the release papers although I just put them in a pile. I should go through that pile because all of last year's cows long since went to the kill plant. I never have to or can do any paperwork. That is all done by the state brand inspectors. If I were to sell one private I have to have the brand inspector come to my place, inspect the critter, and issue a release which shows me selling the animal and lists the new owner. That can be expensive for a single animal because there is a fee which includes mileage. Doing it at the sale cost about $1.50 a head and they take care of everything.

That is the way it is done here as well.

 

[fnfarms1]

I have about a $1370 average into 37 cows. I have been to bred cow specials where gummers sold for $1,800-1,900. I kept my hands in my pockets. Solid mouth cows are $2,000-2,100. That is for Feb-March calving cows. Later calving are a little less.

Looking to buy a few come Feb, pairs or real heavy breds. Still waiting on tax stuff to be figured out. Your 1370 avg, do you calve them and sell in fall? Or run them until they cant go anymore? Debating if i want to go short term SS temporary type cows or invest in front pasture heifers/cows

 

[Travlr]

I bought her at the sale. The brand inspectors at the sale give you a brand release paper. Once you put your own brand on a cow that becomes the valid brand. You can toss the release papers although I just put them in a pile. I should go through that pile because all of last year's cows long since went to the kill plant.

That's how it works in SD too, and I'm glad I kept my paperwork.

I bought a BM cow at one of the local sale barns and hauled her home. She had an odd brand on the left shoulder and my paperwork had a drawing of the brand since it was unregistered. When the cow raised a lighter weight calf I hauled her back to resell her. The guy that ran the barn said the cow had been stolen and the brand inspector got involved. The same one that filled out the paperwork I had. I'm not sure what the sale barn owner was trying to pull but I think he got in some hot water over it. Anyhow, it was a good thing I had my paperwork.

 

[Dave]

Looking to buy a few come Feb, pairs or real heavy breds. Still waiting on tax stuff to be figured out. Your 1370 avg, do you calve them and sell in fall? Or run them until they cant go anymore? Debating if i want to go short term SS temporary type cows or invest in front pasture heifers/cows

In normal years we ship the cows direct to the plant in mid August. Every single one of them. The then weaned calves spend a few days locked in the corral to get the bawl out of them. Then they go out on irrigated hay field regrowth until they get that grazed off which is some time in October. Then the calves go to town. I learned a long time ago not to hold the cows over. Some will make a few more calves but some won't. I take a look at the market and feed cost and supply to decide when to start buying. One of the things that makes this work is the period of time which I am not feeding the cows. Things went a little different this year because of the fire. But the cows left in mid August. Right now 3 1/2 months later I am only feeding a little less than half the cows I will once we are full. Years when hay is expensive or rare I by later but I have learned that gives me later born calves which are smaller come time to sell them. All of that becomes a juggling act.

 

[Dave]

That's how it works in SD too, and I'm glad I kept my paperwork.

I bought a BM cow at one of the local sale barns and hauled her home. She had an odd brand on the left shoulder and my paperwork had a drawing of the brand since it was unregistered. When the cow raised a lighter weight calf I hauled her back to resell her. The guy that ran the barn said the cow had been stolen and the brand inspector got involved. The same one that filled out the paperwork I had. I'm not sure what the sale barn owner was trying to pull but I think he got in some hot water over it. Anyhow, it was a good thing I had my paperwork.

It wouldn't matter here if I kept the paper work or tossed it. Every cow I buy has my brand on her before she leaves the corral. Sort of a loop hole rustlers could use. As long as your brand is registered and healed up it is good to go. I have sold cows with half a dozen brands or more on them. I have never been asked about those old brands. Those cows I bought with a number of brands the only one that shows up on the paper work is the brand of the seller. And an unregistered brand will get the seller in trouble before the cow is sold. So will putting your brand on over the top of an old brand.

 

[Silver]

We have a spot on our manifest for 'other brands'

 

[fnfarms1]

Ive never been questioned on brands here in NE OK. Ive got a brand but never registered it. Branded everything few years ago but havent since.

 

[blackladies]

Hardly anyone brands around here. Would be "cool" to have my own brand but the majority of cattle in this area don't have one.

 

[Travlr]

It wouldn't matter here if I kept the paper work or tossed it. Every cow I buy has my brand on her before she leaves the corral. Sort of a loop hole rustlers could use. As long as your brand is registered and healed up it is good to go. I have sold cows with half a dozen brands or more on them. I have never been asked about those old brands. Those cows I bought with a number of brands the only one that shows up on the paper work is the brand of the seller. And an unregistered brand will get the seller in trouble before the cow is sold. So will putting your brand on over the top of an old brand.

Yup, and I branded the cow that was a problem just as you say. But when she went back to the same SB that I got her from it was a good thing I had the paperwork all the same. I'd have never expected a problem but I had one until I presented the paper trail.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Do they not put metal tags in the ears of cows that age around those parts??
I thought that was mandatory for some time now. The whole idea is track where that cow comes from and goes to isn't it?
They've started EID tags here instead of metal

 

[Dave]

Do they not put metal tags in the ears of cows that age around those parts??
I thought that was mandatory for some time now. The whole idea is track where that cow comes from and goes to isn't it?
They've started EID tags here instead of metal

The ones I know of that you are describing Bangs vaccination tags. Nothing to do with the age of the cow or being able to track her movement. When they Bangs vaccinate a heifer she gets that tag and a tattoo to show that she had been vaccinated.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I'll be danged @Dave
These look like a bangs tag from what I've heard. Never really seen one that I knew of tho. The cow below has one in her right ear. Anything breeding age is supposed to be tagged. Shortly after I bought that group of pairs. They changed over to EID here in Oklahoma. Last month I think It was. The metal Tags served same purpose, just everything was done on paper. Now a USDA representative can scan an electronic "button" and have all that info pretty much immediately available rather than follow a paper trail.
This cow is also branded from her place of origin. JL Herefords out of Missouri IIRC
As far as I know, there is no brand inspection around these parts. And I'm unfamiliar with registered brands and unregistered brands. But I know there is lots and lots of unregistered brands around here.