Guaranteed money

sidney411 · Jan 12, 2006

I've come across a deal where I can get a guaranteed $750 per live calf at 205 day weaning after my expenses for raising the calf to the standard of the buyer have been deducted. Basically I would be replacing the unknown amount I would get for each calf at the sale barn with a constant $750. I'll have to change the way I do a few things but no big deal. I will not need a bull anymore if I go full blown with the whole herd. My cows will become recepient cows for a flush program. What do ya'll think? I'm trying to weight all the pros and cons.

Frankie · Jan 12, 2006

sidney411":hrye6965 said:
I've come across a deal where I can get a guaranteed $750 per live calf at 205 day weaning after my expenses for raising the calf to the standard of the buyer have been deducted. Basically I would be replacing the unknown amount I would get for each calf at the sale barn with a constant $750. I'll have to change the way I do a few things but no big deal. I will not need a bull anymore if I go full blown with the whole herd. My cows will become recepient cows for a flush program. What do ya'll think? I'm trying to weight all the pros and cons.

I've seen some of those work and some not work.

Some thoughts:
First, are they a reputable operation? Will there be extra costs and labor involved in getting the cows ready for implanting? Who pays for that? Will there be a charge if the cows don't settle? Are they furnishing the bull to run with the cows if they don't accept the embryo? Who gets to select him? Will they buy those calves, too, or just the flush calves? Will you be satisfied to grow someone else's calves for them?

bigbull338 · Jan 12, 2006

ok ive just got to jump in here.so sid your wanting to lease your cows out as recips.as well as follow their guied lines.sounds like a good deal.but the q is how successful are they at getting the recip cows bred.i know it can be done.i talked to a guy that buys recips.an it cost him $800 to $1100 pre recip to buy them.who pays for your added expense.scott

sidney411 · Jan 12, 2006

They said a 60%-70% rate on frozen embryos, 70%-8%0 on fresh embryos. Cows ultrasounded at 45 days, If the cow doesn't settle she will be implanted again. I pay for all the sync on the cows. 30 days of creep, 14 days of medicated, and calf vacs. They pay $900 for a live, weaned calf. I'm figuring syncing, calf vacs, and creep will run in the neighborhood of $154.00 per cow (this includes re-servicing 50% of the cows) So that is where I came up with the $750 price. I will have a bull on the other pasture, If a cow doesn't settle with 2 services then she will go to the bull pasture.

BudE · Jan 12, 2006

In my neighborhood it cost $1100 per calf. I drop off the eggs, pick up the calf at weaning. They have about 200 cows and it's not enough for the request they have for recep's. Very labor intensive. No clean up bull required if you keep cycling and putting in embryo's but your calving season quickly becomes 12 months long.

TxSimbrahShower · Jan 12, 2006

Are you talking about the ad that is in the Land and Livetock Post? I saw that too, but, we don't have that many commercial cattle left.

Also, I have always wondered, do they come to you or do you have to load everything up and haul to them for implanting? And what about the big calf that the cow can't have and you loose cow and calf, do you get anything for the lost cow?

I know of a couple of ranches that use them and some of their embryo calves birth weight are 95 to 110 pounds, that's the thing that I worry about.

mom

sidney411 · Jan 12, 2006

Yes, that's the ad. I'm figuring I'm going to have some % loss no matter if I have a bull or embryo calves.

Medic24 · Jan 12, 2006

Good Luck if you go that route, and let us know how it's working out for you after a bit huh? :cboy:

Caustic Burno · Jan 12, 2006

Sounds like a good way to lose your butt.

Texan · Jan 12, 2006

Sounds a whole lot like being in the chicken business, Sid. I just can't picture you in the chicken business, letting somebody else tell you what to do and when to do it. ;-)