grain is an extra ! grain cost money too.your using grain for your supplement.so whats the diffrence?~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tc
Can't speak for you in your area - but have you considered the cost of a tub compared to the cost of a ton of oats/barley or whatever?
Here, there is a huge difference.
Be that as it may, all feed comes from our resources - all feed comes from the ground, and never from a feed mill.
50 pound bags of mineral cost approximately 18 bucks Canadian - subtract 20% to compare your dollar to mine. We do purchase that and salt blocks - but we keep it to an absoulte minimum. So far that is now the only off farm purchase we make any more - other than vaccinations.
Our goal is to put calves on the ground for the cheapest cost. Then sell them after putting the absolute minimum into them. If I put nothing into them then so much the better. If that means they might go to market a few pounds lighter than they used to - well I have still kept my expenses down.
When we pencilled it out this last year, we were ahead by almost 19% if memory serves. So it paid out after all.
If a vet has to make a call for an animal - not always, but usually, that animal will make the final trip. Cull, cull, cull. We are becoming ruthless in that department.
If a person runs a few head - then go ahead and run a tub or two - but for those who attempt to make a living off of this then costs must be kept down - and genetics must be injected into the herd to advance the calf growth capability.
Another example - we have continually culled and worked at increasing the capability for our animals to calve out easily and at the same time have larger calves.
I know this goes against the traditional train of thought - and we were initially concerned about this as well. We have managed to get our animals quite capable of producing larger calves - giving them a bit of a head start on growing. This has meant keeping our heifers and cows separate, and breading them to different styles of animals.
Heifers get a light birth weight bull for their FIRST TWO CALVES. Cows go with something that can produce a 100 pound calf. Last year we managed an average calf weight of 101 pounds for the entire cow herd and 80 pounds for the heifer herd.
Have we had a couple of wrecks along the way - yes. But we are working to reduce the risk and I would have to say we are well on our way. The last two years have provided us with a complete "unassisted calving period for the cows" - despite our best efforts to use light weight birthing bulls we had three pulls in the heife arena - they are all gone from this place - other than number two daughters heifer - she persuaded us to give it another chance as this one was a reverse presentation.
By careful management we have been able to reduce our outside costs by over 50%. That is a substantial savings. I am looking to reduce it another 50%. By bartering work and graze, we have been able to procure any additional feed grains straight from the various farmers in our local area - that to me means people within 50 miles of our gate.
So, I have to say tubs are not cost efficient - for us - and for many others. During pasture weather, I believe cows should have grass and mineral / salt - NOTHING more. If they do not make it they are gone. During the winter they get hay, mineral / salt and some grain - ususally corn. If they do not make it - then they are gone. Period. Genetics - not additives will make the money.
I do not have all the answers - and I am quite willing to say we have made many, many mistakes. Some of the things we do are not considered "standard" and yes we are taking some risks. But if we do not, then we will definitely be putting the for sale sign up at the front gate.
Low cost - low cost - low cost. That is how to make money in the cattle business. In fact as a commercial cow calf operation - that is THE ONLY way to make money in this business.
I have probably missed something - but you get my drift. No tubs for this guy!
Have a good one.
Bez