Ol' 243
Well-known member
If this is a re-post, I apologize.
A few cattle truths to remember:
You can't starve a profit out of your livestock, crops, or pasture.
Big cows need more feed to live than small cows.
High milking cows usually raise lower milking heifers.
Just because it's black doesn't mean it's Angus.
Your bull is the single biggest influencer of your genetics, but the cow is half of the equation, too.
It's easier to keep condition on a cow than to let her get thin, then try to put it back on, ESPECIALLY if she's nursing a calf.
Moderation in everything...milk production, growth, how quickly you jump to give a shot or pull a calf etc.
The quieter and calmer you are while working cattle, the quieter and calmer they will be.
A good vaccination and deworming regimen will ALWAYS bring a net return on investment, even if you're not smart enough to make it add profit on paper.
It's VERY hard to kill a mature cow in decent condition, don't panic at every limp or cough, but neither should you neglect your stock's health.
If your cattle are thin, you either need to buy feed (or hay) or sell cattle, sacrificing the welfare of an animal because of your emotional attachment and financial ineptitude is cruel and malicious.
In an emergency that you don't know how to handle, a call to your local vet or a rancher that you know is experienced is always a better decision than a question on social media.
The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked, but there are thousands of stupid answers for every good one.
Salebarns are a great, safe way to sell cattle and get a check today that is guaranteed to cash. How big the check is depends on a thousand factors that are out of your control, however.
What your cattle are worth to you and to potential customers is often different, either be willing to adjust once you've explored the market or accept that you won't get what you want out of them and keep them.
A good cowdog is worth at least 2 good cowboys on horses, most dogs aren't that good though.
A whip is a great tool, and contrary to popular belief, it doesn't work through fear or pain (unless you're keeping a cow from eating you up).
Cattlemen are first and foremost grass farmers. Your cattle can only be as good as your feed resources. Lime and fertilizer according to a soil test will produce at least 5 times as much forage as the same amount of money spent on buying hay or feed.
Crossbreeding and hybrid vigor are great, but so is preserving the integrity of a breed and the data reported to a breed association.
If you don't spend more on a cow/heifer than you will get from the sale of 3 calves, chances are you've paid a fair price.
If you spend 3 times as much on your herd bull(s) as the average value of your best 3 cows, you'll always be making genetic progress (assuming the bull is actually worth what you paid).
EPDs are more accurate than actual weights and other data on an animal. (This is of course assuming that reported data is accurate)
Once again, YOU CANNOT STARVE A PROFIT OUT OF CATTLE, CROPS, OR PASTURE.
Cattlemen, true cattlemen, often care more about our animals and land than our own welfare and personal lives. It's not an easy calling, but its one which we love.
A few cattle truths to remember:
You can't starve a profit out of your livestock, crops, or pasture.
Big cows need more feed to live than small cows.
High milking cows usually raise lower milking heifers.
Just because it's black doesn't mean it's Angus.
Your bull is the single biggest influencer of your genetics, but the cow is half of the equation, too.
It's easier to keep condition on a cow than to let her get thin, then try to put it back on, ESPECIALLY if she's nursing a calf.
Moderation in everything...milk production, growth, how quickly you jump to give a shot or pull a calf etc.
The quieter and calmer you are while working cattle, the quieter and calmer they will be.
A good vaccination and deworming regimen will ALWAYS bring a net return on investment, even if you're not smart enough to make it add profit on paper.
It's VERY hard to kill a mature cow in decent condition, don't panic at every limp or cough, but neither should you neglect your stock's health.
If your cattle are thin, you either need to buy feed (or hay) or sell cattle, sacrificing the welfare of an animal because of your emotional attachment and financial ineptitude is cruel and malicious.
In an emergency that you don't know how to handle, a call to your local vet or a rancher that you know is experienced is always a better decision than a question on social media.
The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked, but there are thousands of stupid answers for every good one.
Salebarns are a great, safe way to sell cattle and get a check today that is guaranteed to cash. How big the check is depends on a thousand factors that are out of your control, however.
What your cattle are worth to you and to potential customers is often different, either be willing to adjust once you've explored the market or accept that you won't get what you want out of them and keep them.
A good cowdog is worth at least 2 good cowboys on horses, most dogs aren't that good though.
A whip is a great tool, and contrary to popular belief, it doesn't work through fear or pain (unless you're keeping a cow from eating you up).
Cattlemen are first and foremost grass farmers. Your cattle can only be as good as your feed resources. Lime and fertilizer according to a soil test will produce at least 5 times as much forage as the same amount of money spent on buying hay or feed.
Crossbreeding and hybrid vigor are great, but so is preserving the integrity of a breed and the data reported to a breed association.
If you don't spend more on a cow/heifer than you will get from the sale of 3 calves, chances are you've paid a fair price.
If you spend 3 times as much on your herd bull(s) as the average value of your best 3 cows, you'll always be making genetic progress (assuming the bull is actually worth what you paid).
EPDs are more accurate than actual weights and other data on an animal. (This is of course assuming that reported data is accurate)
Once again, YOU CANNOT STARVE A PROFIT OUT OF CATTLE, CROPS, OR PASTURE.
Cattlemen, true cattlemen, often care more about our animals and land than our own welfare and personal lives. It's not an easy calling, but its one which we love.
