Selling old cows

[Brute 23]

It's getting time to sell some of our original cows for the place I take care of. These are like 03 models. A few of them are starting to show their age. The grass has been good so they are about as good as they are going to get. If we go in to a 4 year drought they probably would not make it or we would take a beating.

Im getting a little sentimental about these old cows. I have culled the group over the years for temperament, injuries, etc which is no problem for me... culling for just getting old is tough.

I have been known to pay a buddy to haul bulls so I didn't have to do it.

 

[dun]

Been down that road, just last week as a matter o fact. It sucks and doesn;t get any easier. Maybe even harder as you get older too.

 

[Rafter S]

It's getting time to sell some of our original cows for the place I take care of. These are like 03 models. A few of them are starting to show their age. The grass has been good so they are about as good as they are going to get. If we go in to a 4 year drought they probably would not make it or we would take a beating.

Im getting a little sentimental about these old cows. I have culled the group over the years for temperament, injuries, etc which is no problem for me... culling for just getting old is tough.

I have been known to pay a buddy to haul bulls so I didn't have to do it.

I still have one Brangus cow that I inherited from my father, who died in 2007, and she wasn't young then. I made up my mind last year that she can die on the place even if she lives another 5 years and never has another calf. I've never done that before, and probably won't again, but there it is.

 

[Brute 23]

My family is bad about just letting them die on the place... that usually involves me having to shoot them when they go down. I swore I wouldn't do that. I hate doing it plus it doesn't make financial sense.

 

[Bestoutwest]

I have been known to pay a buddy to haul bulls so I didn't have to do it.

When we take one in for slaughter, my wife gets all choked up. I've told her not to make pets out of them, but she still does it every time. This years calf is going to be tough b/c she made good friends with him while I was on the couch after my surgery.

 

[Brute 23]

My deal is not they are pets it's just if they are still around they did their job well. They probably have daughters doing their job too. It's more of a loyalty deal. A lot of those old cows are so easy to handle even when you work them. It's like an old dog... They just know what to do.

 

[Caustic Burno]

My deal is not they are pets it's just if they are still around they did their job well. They probably have daughters doing their job too. It's more of a loyalty deal. A lot of those old cows are so easy to handle even when you work them. It's like an old dog... They just know what to do.

Only one here got to avoid the slaughter line.
After 19 steer calves and you could lead that old Brangus girl anywhere I figured she earned it.

 

[bird dog]

I also hate to do it but really don't see much difference. The slaughter house is a quick painless death. Going through the sale barn is much more painful and stressful plus the multi hour ride to the packers.

 

[Brute 23]

I also hate to do it but really don't see much difference. The slaughter house is a quick painless death. Going through the sale barn is much more painful and stressful plus the multi hour ride to the packers.

True.

 

[kenny thomas]

I sold a 15 year old, 1100lb, 7 month bred cow yesterday for 925 at the stockyard. No way will I let one die if I can do that.

 

[Bigfoot]

I some times feel like a slime ball, when I read threads like this. I have never felt any emotional attachment to a cow. She did her job, and I have to do mine.

 

[1982vett]

It's getting time to sell some of our original cows for the place I take care of. These are like 03 models. A few of them are starting to show their age. The grass has been good so they are about as good as they are going to get. If we go in to a 4 year drought they probably would not make it or we would take a beating.

Im getting a little sentimental about these old cows. I have culled the group over the years for temperament, injuries, etc which is no problem for me... culling for just getting old is tough.

I have been known to pay a buddy to haul bulls so I didn't have to do it.

Feel for you. Bad enough to cut good performing cows because of age when you can get a good check to ease the pain, but the check your going to get right now is just going to hurt your feelings more.

I sold a bunch last March In the 65 to 75 cent range. They were bringing 48 to 53 today.

 

[cowgirl8]

We sold our last show heifer yesterday. It was sad, but it would have been sadder to find her down, half eaten.. or stuck in a pond, or any horrible ways a cow died naturally of old age. I see it as a better way to go, they don't know its coming. But Tator knew something was up, just hope its quick for her....We have her daughter to remind us of her, Tator JR...and her granddaughter Tator Jr Jr......She'll live on

 

[NolanCountyAG]

I hauled a trailer load to the packer Tuesday, some of them would eat out of my hand. But for $1.28/# it's worth it to get rid of them if they aren't producing.

 

[Brute 23]

I hauled a trailer load to the packer Tuesday, some of them would eat out of my hand. But for $1.28/# it's worth it to get rid of them if they aren't producing.

What packer was that? It would be worth the drive. :shock:

 

[Stocker Steve]

I sold a bunch last March In the 65 to 75 cent range. They were bringing 48 to 53 today.

Why is the cow market down so much? Is it the dairy cull?

 

[NolanCountyAG]

I hauled a trailer load to the packer Tuesday, some of them would eat out of my hand. But for $1.28/# it's worth it to get rid of them if they aren't producing.

What packer was that? It would be worth the drive. :shock:

Texas packing in San Angelo. Just opened not long ago. Must be trying to get customers back from lone star packing. They were 20 cents higher than lone star Tuesday.

 

[1982vett]

I sold a bunch last March In the 65 to 75 cent range. They were bringing 48 to 53 today.

Why is the cow market down so much? Is it the dairy cull?

Don’t know if it’s dairy specific, but I’ve heard their is a lot of cows going to market and prices for these cows usually are weak this time of year. Ya gotta kill an open cow don’t cha know...... ;-) :mrgreen:

 

[Stocker Steve]

November is usually the lowest cull cow pricing, but we are down from last November and speculation is that it will be lower yet in 2018...
I think I only have one open, but I have about 15 bred culls that were getting green chop corn. Don't need teeth for that.

 

[J&D Cattle]

Sold a couple from .35-.45 last week. They were pretty poor. Got a couple more with more condition that might break .50 but that's still dang low.