SRBeef":1xjbowqi said:
If a cow has a problem they should have been culled much earlier. After a couple successful unassisted calves that are close to or exceed 50% of the cow's weight at weaning, as far as I am concerned a cow can stay until she turns up open in the fall at preg check.
If they are open at preg check they get shipped to the slaughter sale the next day. Until then they have a home. Their job is to successfully birth and raise a calf to weaning. If they do their job, I will do my job and make sure they have a home. I don't care how old, or young, they are. It costs too much to maintain a cow for a year to do otherwise.
Even if they are less than ideal cows as in too short a hook to pin, etc. If they can have a calf every year above 50% of their wt then they can stay. I just want to be careful not to retain heifers nor bulls from anything but the best. They will still make calves that provide good steaks and burger. And they are paid for.
I'm raising beef, not breeding stock.
Jim
I agree with you Jim. I guess what I was trying to get out of someone was this.
You can still have a productive cow at 10 or even 12 with less than desirable traits. Therefore how old before those less than desireable traits show up like bad feet, poor udders, ect. I have seen less than perfect udders be very functional at 12 yrs old. As long as the calf can get hooked on and she raises it I guess I let them stay. But in the same token I wouldnt keep a daughter in a registered herd out of a coke bottle teat cow. As for bad feet, Have seen several bulls with foundered hooves still breeding at 10 . In the same token i have seen very few Angus bulls that are 10 yrs old. But I think it is the area I am in.
I think these farmers are spoiled and just use a different bull every 4 or 5 yrs and ship the old one off.