... some advice our vet gave us last fall when we worked our herd.
1. problem cows. Included cows with medical, genetic and disposition problems we shipped both the cow and calf at this time (august)
2. cows on the aged list, the older ones who might not make a it through the rough year, this was done at weaning
3. then the vet came in and preg checked the cows. OUr thought was anything open was going on the truck
As it happened, our best cow was being preg checked. She was heavy, summered well on poor pasture, had a decent bag etc. The vet took one look at her and asked what her calf was like. I said mid range, nothing to stop the presses. Her words were..."SHIP HER" NOW! Now that was a stunner. So me in my stuper asked why. Here was her answer paraphrased:
If she is not bringing in the best calf at her weight and shape, she is not a good converter of food or pounds in relation to her calf. In effect she is putting the weight into herself and not into what she should be doing, pounds in her calf, effectively paying for herself. So you are feeding an unproductive cow getting a mid weight calf, loosing money in the feed she eats....
We shipped her...... i think alot has to do with getting rid of the free loaders. When i say free loaders i mean the ones who have a calf but are not putting the energy into the calf but themselvesmake sense?