What's your preference for obtaining replacement females? I have a small commercial herd. Mostly I've bought cows that have had a calf or two previously.
The problem that I run into most often with buying cows is that they seem to have been sold because they don't breed back promptly.
I like the idea of retaining my own heifers but then you have to keep them away from a bull and they don't generate any income for a couple years.
Just thought I'd see how some of you more experienced folks like to do it.
For a commercial herd, you are doing the right thing. Actually, it is more like 30+ months before you can sell a calf off of a retained heifer. From a pure economic stand point, you can always buy as good or better heifer or cow, for less money than you can raise one. But even that depends on your situation. If you have a few cows, but raise a couple hundred acres of hay to sell, and/or raise corn, then your costs, then your costs will be less than someone who has to buy all of their hay, feed, etc. Yesterday I watched several online auctions, and saw 4-500lb heifers bring $2.80- $3.00/lb. , and 5-600 bring $2.50 - $2.75 lb. By the head, all across the country, bred cows and heifers were as cheap as $100 to high as $2300 per head. So, you could have sold a heifer for $1500-$1600, and with the same money, or put a couple hundred with it, and you could have bought a bred cow/heifer that would give you 2-3 calves before that one you retain has her first. Not all cows at the sale barn are culled due to problems. Many are sold by people getting out of the business, changing direction in their programs, tightening calving schedules, etc. And there are people who specialize in raising replacement heifers. Most have spent a long time putting together the cow herd they raise them from, and use top quality bulls. If they have been doing this for a while, and have a good reputation, you are completely safe buying from them. Of course, there are people who have commercial cows that just enjoy raising their own heifers, and making money is secondary to that. Growing up, my ganddaddy had commercial Angus. We'd trailer wean al the claves, heifers and steers. If we ever needed to replace a cow, we'd take her and the calves ready to be weaned to the sale, and bring back a replacement cow. Never ever put a steer in the freezer, either. He said he would rather take them to the sale, and stop by Wynn Dixie on the way home., and just buy whatever T-bones he wanted to eat with the calf money.
