Entering the "buying cows vs raising heifers" debate but not trying to steal the original thread . . .
I'm a HUGE fan of buying cows and NOT raising my own heifers. That said, I'm also tired of the issues with bringing new head into herd. I brought ringworm in (not lethal, but not wanted). I bought one cow from a respected closed herd that turned up positive for Johnes. I brought in a cow that struggled with a particular strain of Coccidiosis that didn't seem to affect my cows. I have to screen every incoming cow for Johnes. I brought in hairy heel wart and and lumpy jaw . . . again, all from respected herds. These things all go around and are all manageable, but there is a cost associated with managing it that isn't always in the cost calculations.
I'm closing back up . . . at least until I have to hyper manage my next group of calving heifers :?
I'm a HUGE fan of buying cows and NOT raising my own heifers. That said, I'm also tired of the issues with bringing new head into herd. I brought ringworm in (not lethal, but not wanted). I bought one cow from a respected closed herd that turned up positive for Johnes. I brought in a cow that struggled with a particular strain of Coccidiosis that didn't seem to affect my cows. I have to screen every incoming cow for Johnes. I brought in hairy heel wart and and lumpy jaw . . . again, all from respected herds. These things all go around and are all manageable, but there is a cost associated with managing it that isn't always in the cost calculations.
I'm closing back up . . . at least until I have to hyper manage my next group of calving heifers :?