Cowherd dispersal

[Ky hills]

Would it be better to disperse now or wait till up in the fall?
I’d originally thought about toward the end of this month, but got to thinking maybe better to wait till spring calves are weaned and those cows are further along in calf, and the fall cows should pretty well be calved out again by then.

 

[Brute 23]

Yes

 

[mwj]

If you sell now, how will you keep your pastures clean and tidy. I am presuming you still plan to sell your farm and move.

Overgrown pastures and unused barns could cost you more than the extra sale price on cattle.

 

[Ky hills]

If you sell now, how will you keep your pastures clean and tidy. I am presuming you still plan to sell your farm and move.

Overgrown pastures and unused barns could cost you more than the extra sale price on cattle.

the thinking is maybe could let somebody cut the hay next year. As it is now we have to hire out the hay work and buy in more, as well as hire pasture mowing.
Have also been approached about leasing it to graze.
Not sure what we’ll do but leaning towards selling most cows, may keep a very small number, as we the plan is to downsize significantly once we move.

 

[gcreekrch]

Were it me I would be keeping my cows and capitalizing on another couple years of good profits should your land not sell immediately. Selling cows only takes one phone call for a truck.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Were it me I would be keeping my cows and capitalizing on another couple years of good profits should your land not sell immediately. Selling cows only takes one phone call for a truck.

Agreed. Selling a chunk of real estate can take time.

I could have trucks here next Monday and have the direct deposit for the cattle Thursday.

 

[bird dog]

Good cattle will help sell a place. A lease'r might overgraze it, so I wouldn't go that route.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I'm with @gcreekrch

When the time comes, call the sale barn and have em send some guys to haul em and sell. No fuss. No muss. They ain't gonna do anything but get bigger. And we still sell em by the pound.

 

[SBMF 2015]

In this market cycle that we’re in, the cold hard sad truth is that it really doesn’t matter when you sell them. Unless they are young and the right color. The packers will set the tone. I’ve seen a lot of 6-7mo bred cows go to the packers in the last couple years. Just because they had a little age or an off color.

If you have the feed to carry them I’d sell the falls as pairs this fall and hold the springs tell they are about 30 days from calving.

 

[kenny thomas]

Sell the calves as they get big enough and dont sell the cows before November.
June 28th i bought a cow/calf pair for $2125. I had bid on her in early April and she brought $2500. Calf was lots bigger now.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Sell the calves as they get big enough and dont sell the cows before November.
June 28th i bought a cow/calf pair for $2125. I had bid on her in early April and she brought $2500. Calf was lots bigger now.

Trader cow? Some times those odd colored ones just keep showing up every month.

The sale barn I worked at got hung with a set of Norwegian Reds. Wow, they stuck out ! I think we sold them every month that winter then they put them on pasture, calved them out, had bulls running with them so they got bred back. That next fall we started selling them again. Finally I think the sale barn owner just cut his losses and let them go.

 

[kenny thomas]

Trader cow? Some times those odd colored ones just keep showing up every month.

The sale barn I worked at got hung with a set of Norwegian Reds. Wow, they stuck out ! I think we sold them every month that winter then they put them on pasture, calved them out, had bulls running with them so they got bred back. That next fall we started selling them again. Finally I think the sale barn owner just cut his losses and let them go.

No this was a legit sale. The guy bought them in the spring and i guess ran out of pasture or money. Brought them back in and the cow was 2 months bred. Calf weighed 2.60. He split them to sell. I bought the cow and then later in the sale bought the calf.

 

[Travlr]

Would it be better to disperse now or wait till up in the fall?
I'd originally thought about toward the end of this month, but got to thinking maybe better to wait till spring calves are weaned and those cows are further along in calf, and the fall cows should pretty well be calved out again by then.

Each time I sold I waited for the real estate to sell first. It's not unusual for a seller to ask for a month or two to vacate. I did a heavy cull once an offer was accepted, only keeping the best stock in case the deal didn't happen.
Sorry to hear you're dealing with this. Hope you do well where you land.

 

[Warren Allison]

@Ky hills Do you still have the Plummer cow in your avatar? Let me know when you decide to sell her, unless you want to sell her in a group with your other cows.

 

[mwj]

The elephant in the room is tax liability. Take a hard look at what happens when you sell everything in one tax year.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

Sell now.
When it comes to cows there are so many factors.

1. Animals die
2. Animals bust stuff, which costs you to fix it
3. Prices are good right now
4. Buyers don't have to worry about feed situation right now, unlike if you sell in the fall, i.e. hay crop here is no good.
5. As @mwj said, the taxman is going to love you, if you sell everything within the same year

SElling off the herd, I can't imagine, it would be heartbreak and painful, but if that decision is made........ get it done and over with. There are too many variables and it's less worry and responsibility if they are gone now. Imagine you win the lottery and get a buyer for the land as soon as you list it......... you won't have to worry about selling the cows asap.

Just my 5 cent.