Taurus":38lqszma said:
BC":38lqszma said:
Whether we like it or not, cattle are sold on physical appearance. Fat, bloomy calves don't bring as much as thinner calves. Smaller framed calves out of 1000 lb easy fleshing cows get called short, spotted calves get docked because they stick out like a sore thumb in a pen of solid colored calves. May not be fair, but that is the way it is.
Next time you get some calves with defects or blemishes, you might want to feed them out and sell them as freezer beef. I know one buyer that buys the spots and paints for himself. He sends them to the feedlot and sells them on the rail. He makes a profit doing this because the calves cost less upfront.
So what's the explanation on the dock on the calves with no ears?
Taurus-
BC just told you. Because they can! For whatever reasons or collection of reasons or no reason at all. You are a captive audience and there is not much that you can do about it except be nice - unless there is another sale barn within a reasonable distance from you.
Frozen ears make a calf "look" weird. "O-o-o-h, look at that calf's ears!" So - he is docked, and they blame it all on
George Bush! It's a crock!
DOC HARRIS