Don't know what to tell you, it does sound like you are not really liking your cows. There is no real good "sweet spot" in the cattle markets right now. Cow/calf operations are usually the ones that make the least amount of money 7 out of 10 years. The one saving grace about that is that for the most part, they keep multiplying without a huge cash input... like putting out a big chunk of money to buy a group of feeders. Cows, with a bull, will usually give you more "cows" in the form of calves. So you are having something to sell, while still keeping your base intact. That's a very simplistic view, but I hope you understand what I mean. There are all sorts of parts to that.
If you were to buy feeders, I would buy heifers for the simple fact that here they bring about the same in the spring or the fall. Steers will vary a bit more....ON A NORMAL YEAR. Again, it is a crap shoot lately. You have to like the cows, and not expect to be making any big money off them. I have to agree with darcelina4, either cull hard, or sell them all if you are not happy with them. If the pastures are that overgrazed, then either way, let at least half of the pasture have a break ( if you keep a few) and then rotate your grass using electric or something. Maybe you are just burnt out and need to get out for awhile? Maybe rent it to someone else and get a definite income that is not dependent on the swings in the market. Let it be some elses' headache.
You didn't say how you manage your herd now. How much land you have, where you are located. All those things come into play as to what might be best. But realize, it costs in the neighborhood of 1.50 PER DAY, over the course of a year, to keep a cow. That's a basic figure. but it is a good point to figure off of. So it costs you round figures, $550 a year to keep a cow. That's what you have to get from a calf to just break even....not counting your labor. If the calves you sell weigh 500 lbs and only bring 1.25 lb, that's only 625 per calf for the whole years work. That doesn't include them getting out or other things that happen. If you take all your calf sale money and put it into a separate account, you can get by on an average year. You aren't making money on the ones that don't weigh 500, the heifer calves bring less, if one or 2 die you're behind. You have to weigh in if it is worth your time or if you just are doing it because you like having your own cows. It is not hardly worth it if you are trying to make money at it. Those days are long gone with the turn of the 1900's. Making a living can be done, but not on 20 cows. And again, look at it like this....it is 365 days. Not as confining as a dairy, your hours can be more flexible, but it still requires some time, work, and effort on your part.
