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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 14617"><p>All good thinking, I'll add my two cents.</p><p></p><p>For a cow/calf operation, purebred cattle are not necessary. Look for sound young mothers that can raise a good calf. The safest way to do that is buy pairs. We buy thru the ring a lot. They don't have to be in great shape – a lot of times (especially the past three years) they are being sold because the owner is running out of grass. The main thing is that they are young and healthy. You can pick up the cows in marginal condition cheaper and they will fatten up if you take care of them.</p><p></p><p>Get to the sale early and go back to the pens, spend some time on the catwalks and see what's there that day. Only consider cows that have been toothed, then avoid any problems with eyes, bags, limps etc. Then evaluate what kind of calf she has. If they are numbered wrong when unloaded (or somebody is playing games when pre-numbering) or the barn makes a mistake it is possible that the calf is not hers. The only way to know for sure is to witness the calf suck. Usually not a problem but it can happen. Don't bid on anything that's wild and crazy. Personally, I don't like to buy any cow with a lot of ear and I'm getting where I don't like anything that's tiger striped. Same goes for horns as far as my opinion goes. They're just too ornery with the other cattle and de-horning calves is just one more chore.</p><p></p><p>The best advice on the other responses was to get a mentor. Find some guy with gray hair that has been around and doesn't mind sharing his wisdom – but isn't a loudmouth. Buy his lunch and ask some questions. If you're just getting started and don't want to buy a trailer yet, ask around and find out who hauls cattle. Odds are that guy will know something about the business and you can ride with him, sit with him at the sale, pick his brain. It's amazing how much we can learn if we're not too proud to ask and listen. That's what these boards are all about. One last thing, there is usually more than one right answer.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 14617"] All good thinking, I’ll add my two cents. For a cow/calf operation, purebred cattle are not necessary. Look for sound young mothers that can raise a good calf. The safest way to do that is buy pairs. We buy thru the ring a lot. They don’t have to be in great shape – a lot of times (especially the past three years) they are being sold because the owner is running out of grass. The main thing is that they are young and healthy. You can pick up the cows in marginal condition cheaper and they will fatten up if you take care of them. Get to the sale early and go back to the pens, spend some time on the catwalks and see what’s there that day. Only consider cows that have been toothed, then avoid any problems with eyes, bags, limps etc. Then evaluate what kind of calf she has. If they are numbered wrong when unloaded (or somebody is playing games when pre-numbering) or the barn makes a mistake it is possible that the calf is not hers. The only way to know for sure is to witness the calf suck. Usually not a problem but it can happen. Don’t bid on anything that’s wild and crazy. Personally, I don’t like to buy any cow with a lot of ear and I’m getting where I don’t like anything that’s tiger striped. Same goes for horns as far as my opinion goes. They’re just too ornery with the other cattle and de-horning calves is just one more chore. The best advice on the other responses was to get a mentor. Find some guy with gray hair that has been around and doesn’t mind sharing his wisdom – but isn’t a loudmouth. Buy his lunch and ask some questions. If you’re just getting started and don’t want to buy a trailer yet, ask around and find out who hauls cattle. Odds are that guy will know something about the business and you can ride with him, sit with him at the sale, pick his brain. It’s amazing how much we can learn if we’re not too proud to ask and listen. That’s what these boards are all about. One last thing, there is usually more than one right answer. [/QUOTE]
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