herd replacement rate

[regenwether]

Let's say you have a 100 hd cow herd. The age of the herd is evenly between Heifer's to aged cows. How many Heifer's do you think you should breed a year? Figure not 100% of the heifers will stick and also your normal cow culling from age to health issue's.

 

[bigbull338]

Let's say you have a 100 hd cow herd. The age of the herd is evenly between Heifer's to aged cows. How many Heifer's do you think you should breed a year? Figure not 100% of the heifers will stick and also your normal cow culling from age to health issue's.[/quotethe cattle cull rate figures at 15% a yr.now thats your bad eye cows your bad bag an old cows an crazy cows.so id say keep an breed 20 heifers a yr to maintain herd numbers.

 

[regenwether]

bigbull. At what age do you start culling old cows? 10-12....15-16???

 

[bigbull338]

bigbull. At what age do you start culling old cows? 10-12....15-16???

you cull on things like cancer eye bad baggs non breeders temperment.age wise 12 or 14.you want to cull before they get sick.

 

[randiliana]

bigbull. At what age do you start culling old cows? 10-12....15-16???

Depends on the operation. Some cull at 10 years of age. We cull when production drops off. Some cows will not make 10, some will go 15 or more. Also, you cull on disposition, conformation, health issues (cancer eye, lameness etc) and production issues (bad bag, no milk etc) and of course fertility. We figure 10% per year.

 

[Boss Cowman]

when I cull it's for a reason, not necessarily age. I mouth my cows every year, when they are down to pearls or body condition starts slipping they hit the road. If a cow comes in open or didn't raise a calf she's gone. If a cow has a bad attitude in general I'll cull her, but if it's over her calf I can put up with it. I'd rather have a mad momma than one who isn't worried about her calf. Out of a hundred cows 15 or so heifers would be about right. But most herds lean toward one end or the other in age.

 

[msscamp]

Let's say you have a 100 hd cow herd. The age of the herd is evenly between Heifer's to aged cows. How many Heifer's do you think you should breed a year? Figure not 100% of the heifers will stick and also your normal cow culling from age to health issue's.

If a heifer met the requirements set forth by us, she was bred. If she didn't settle, she was culled. We did not cull based on age alone - never have. If a cow can produce and raise a good calf she stays, I don't care what her age was. We routinely had 100% of the replacement heifers settle.

 

[Norman K. Huppert Sr]

Can anyone tell me how long a bull will last in a herd of about 25 cows.
I have been told that after 10 years, get a new bull.
Also, when the sperm count goes down, and you notice that you are not getting a calf in a reasonable amount of time.

We have had one calf born blind, one with bad sours in the mount, that would not allow it to suck. Are these signs of the bull?

I hear a-lot about EPD'S, but if you have a good looking bull, why change for one that is UNKOWN, or based on EPD's?

What are the signs to look for.

Would appreciate hearing from someone that has gone through this before?

Thank you,

Norman

 

[msscamp]

Can anyone tell me how long a bull will last in a herd of about 25 cows.
I have been told that after 10 years, get a new bull.

10 years seems a bit much to me, unless he is an exceptional bull. It might be feasible if you've got the resources to keep bloodlines separate, so the bull isn't breeding his daughters. To the best of my recollection, we never kept a bull longer than 6 years - and they were in the minority. With the exception of an accident or two, we never line-bred either.

Also, when the sperm count goes down, and you notice that you are not getting a calf in a reasonable amount of time.

Time to replace the bull, look at your management practices, look at your herd genetics, look at your health program, or maybe all 4.

We have had one calf born blind, one with bad sours in the mount, that would not allow it to suck. Are these signs of the bull?

They could be the results of line-breeding/inbreeding, they could just be bad luck, they could even be a result of lack of proper management and nutrition - although with there only being 1 of each, I'm thinking management/nutrition is probably not the problem.

I hear a-lot about EPD'S, but if you have a good looking bull, why change for one that is UNKOWN, or based on EPD's?

I can't answer this one - EPD's are something I'm still trying to get a handle on. I can, however, tell you that there is a lot more to a bull than 'good looks' - especially if one doesn't have the knowledge/experience to know how to decipher those 'good looks'.

Thank you,

Norman