I love it when a producer is actually able to SEE his cattle and realize their BCS. Too many people are totally barn blind and never see their cattle as they really are. Kutos to you!!!
Yes, these two young moms are thin - but they are really working for you. Young cows are a little more susceptible to heavy worm loads - might be something to check on them?
You do a great job with your herd.
One of my big problems this year is I had a lot of hay, more than I could feed, but my first cut was not marketable, it had rain on it, some weeds in it, so I had to sell my 2nd cut and feed my cows the less nutritious first cut, I gave them LOTS and didn't care if they wasted some, but still the protein level wasn't there, and for those two young cows at the bottom of the pecking order and milking hard, it just wasn't good for them.. The solid tan one is going to be late calving next year for sure... it's a fine line having them in the right condition before calving, not too fat and not skinny either.. I did have a 25% protein lick tub when they were on hay but they didn't eat much of it
The momma of the one with the white milked herself down really badly last year and looked like skin and bones last fall, and wasn't bred.. unfortunatley I'd already culled hard by the time I found that out so she got a pass, she'll have a calf in a few months.. She looks like a whole new cow now, she's put on a MASSIVE amount of weight, she's gone from the bottom of the pecking order to be a challenger to some boss cows.. Her topline looks way better too now
What do you think, Daughter is probably a BCS 3, Momma a BCS 6-7?
Grandma is the one that had twins last year, and I kept the heifer, but I didn't beat the odds and I think she is a freemartin, so she'll be freezer beef next year (I was prepared for this).. She was SOLID RED last winter and all of a sudden she turned roan, and all 4 hooves went from black to white
2 year old (full) sister on the left, she's on the right
This is her last fall (full sister behind her)