Springin

[jcarkie]

to me springing is when the back end starts loosing up. the udder on a heifer can fool you, i had one this year that i saw get bred by my bull and had her checked. my father-in-law looked at her at 3 months prior and said she is getting close. he knows cattle pretty good so i was a little worried that maybe my neighbors bull might have !! what i didn't know was that was not near where her udder was going to be, it was huge. she calved about 2 days past her due date Feb. 4th. i was right for once

 

[Wewild]

to me springing is when the back end starts loosing up. the udder on a heifer can fool you, i had one this year that i saw get bred by my bull and had her checked. my father-in-law looked at her at 3 months prior and said she is getting close. he knows cattle pretty good so i was a little worried that maybe my neighbors bull might have !! what i didn't know was that was not near where her udder was going to be, it was huge. she calved about 2 days past her due date Feb. 4th. i was right for once

I was taught the same way ...... except for the father in-law thing.

 

[Jake]

thats fine but its a country mile away from the number of cattle you have to run to clear over $200,000.00 profit in a year

Heck brokenmouth, maybe he clears 1000$ a head on 200 head. :roll: :lol: :roll: :lol: :roll:

Now those are amazing numbers in the average profit is a 100 bucks a head.

that's probably gross profit not net.....

 

[Rob Johnson]

At least I now know what the term "Springin" means...... kind of. I see it in all the cattle auction ads, but had no idea what it meant.
I'm a green California to Minnesota transplant that is having a really good time learning about cattle, horses and farming in general. But I must admitt, I had no idea how much real WORK was involved in this stuff.
Thanks for the knowlage.

Rob Johnson
Foley, MN.

Rob Johnson
Foley, MN.

 

[cul8r]

Now those are amazing numbers in the average profit is a 100 bucks a head.

If you only have a profit of $100.00 dollars a head :shock: , then you must be doing something wrong or else you only have a few head on a few acres and your feeding them like crazy and the bank must own everything.

 

[Bama]

100 dollars a head is about the national average. If you figure all the feed, pasture upkeep, medication, vet bills, purchase's, and everthing else that go into total cost. 75 or 150 a head is sometimes seen, it just depends on the markets.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Now those are amazing numbers in the average profit is a 100 bucks a head.

If you only have a profit of $100.00 dollars a head :shock: , then you must be doing something wrong or else you only have a few head on a few acres and your feeding them like crazy and the bank must own everything.

If you are profiting more than a 150 bucks a head you are keeping funny books or lying as Bama stated the national average is a 100 bucks a head.
Cows have an operating cost even after they are payed for. That tank of diesel for the truck, buying, bailing hay, medication cost, taxes, tractor upkeep, losses and so on. Apparently you are a truely remarkable cowboy, you have reduced operating cost better than all the cattlemen in the Nation. Please educate all of us dumb cattlemen on how you have reduced your cost below the national average.

 

[jerry27150]

actually caustic if i couldn't make more profit than a 100 dollars on a cow i would have been broke years ago. i could buy hay to feed one year around for less than 200 dollars. when they figure that average, they are figuring your labor at over 10 dollars an hour or more.

 

[Caustic Burno]

actually caustic if i couldn't make more profit than a 100 dollars on a cow i would have been broke years ago. i could buy hay to feed one year around for less than 200 dollars. when they figure that average, they are figuring your labor at over 10 dollars an hour or more.

10 rolls of hay aint much hay You sell the average calf (commerical) at the salebarn for 600 bucks. So you are saying the cow cost nothing to upkeep for a year. Your not being realistic if you don't include all cost.
You may be like VD4 with astronomical profits.
You have Taxes, mileage,fuelcost, equipment cost, repair cost. medical cost. Takes a while to pay off a 40,000 dollar tractor a 15,000 dollar baler a 30,000 dollar truck 7,000 dollar trailer etc. These are all cost of doing business.

 

[Wewild]

they are figuring your labor at over 10 dollars an hour or more.

You got a link? .... I ain't found the break down that way...

 

[Bama]

I did a total cost/profit a couple of years back. On average I made $107 on a bad year and $142 on a good year. Thats counting everthing except my labor. I look at things pretty close. I'm in this business for one thing - money. I count gas for everthing from 4 wheeler to picking up supplies. If I buy a nail its counted. I keep very good records for tax purposes but also to know exactly how much I make off of each cow. I run a tight operation. If anyone can do $200 on a cow average I would like to know how. If you could do this on a regular basis you would have to be able to stretch your money pretty thin. Heck I stretch mine so far its like stretching a knat's butt over a telephone post.

 

[Bez]

Bama

You do well with those numbers.

It is not likely any commercial guy could do a whole lot better - suspect those who go the breeding stock road can do a bit better - but those who sell for the really big numbers are truly few and far between.

Interesting discussion. Around here we went through this a couple of weeks ago - averages for the guys in my county went about 95 to 115 bucks per head on an average year. Really good years and there were only a couple who figured they managed more than 130 bucks profit.

Tax man cometh tomorrow to check my numbers. I have been into the books all day today. The good news is I think we can keep going for another little bit.

The bad news is we are behind approximately $40,280.01 from last year. Mind you we are paying for some land and some equipment - that really eats up the money.

Those are my numbers - I sincerely hope this guy does not figure I owe the slugs that run this socialistic outfit called Canada a big pile of bucks!

So when I see folks saying they are making more than 125 per head - it is enough to turn me green with envy - and wonder "Just How Did They Do That?" I sure haven't figured it out and yeah, I am ready to listen and learn.

Right now I just wish they made enough to pay the feed, fuel and tax bills.

If the numbers get to 200 per head then I wonder if what I am hearing is up front truth or simply wishful thinking.

Regards

Bez

 

[Bama]

Bez,
The higher numbers are from where I have bought rough looking calves and made something out of them. I buy calves that have potential to make something. This is very risky and I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. A person can also get burned really bad buying like this.

 

[Bez]

Bama

I suspect you get more than 350 bucks per head when you sell them as well? :lol:

My best to date was a 400 buck calf that went out the door at just over 650 pounds.

Prices may start to rise this summer due to the hold back program - but I am not allowed to sell anything that can be slaughtered until Jan of next year - so if prices do rise I would like them to hold until mid Jan / 06.

As for buying grasers - have made some good coin there - but you do have to buy right. And the market has to hold for you.

Bez

 

[Bama]

I buy at anywhere form 150 - 325 pounds for $175 - $325
I sell at 400 - 600 at $450 - $650 on these type calves. They are all not as pretty as a good cow raised calf but I am able to make money on them. One of the challenges is timing the markets as to cost of gain. Now I hope someone don't try to copy me on this as I said before it is very risky. It is possible to spend a quarter to make a dime doing this.

 

[jerry27150]

some people say i can squeeze juice out of a raisin, never seen where anyone in the beef buisiness would need new equipment. i always stay small & do all my own work. when i was in the dairy business i had all new equipment, but when i switched to beef i sold all my equipment & bought used. i always try to work with nature & not buy a lot of stuff you guys think you have to have. never had a real job some would say, always farmed. never had over 75 cow calf pairs & always thought i did alright. i don't owe nobody a cent & that helps. lot of farmers where i came from( appalachia poverty country) would ask how i would do things & make money. never have been afraid to try any new ideas like a lot of you. guess i like to experiment. have an inquisitive mind i guess, was always in college prep classes in high school, but always hated school. always told them i was going to farm & by gawd i believe i have done it

 

[Caustic Burno]

You still had to buy equipment and there is still cost even if its used. What your trying to sell is BS. If BS goes to forty bucks a barrel I want drillin rights on your place.

 

[Scotty]

Beat you to Burno. Staked it jsut befor you did.


Scotty

 

[stocky]

I think the key to the original post is the definition of springer. In my area a springer is within 4 or at the most 6 weeks of freshening, a heavy springer is within 2 weeks of freshening---auctioneers try to sell cows by calling them springers even when they are only 5 months along, but everyone knows not to pay attention to an auctioneer trying to sell something.
In my experience, heifers are difficult to tell when they are actually springing. I have had many that would swell up in the udder or behind and then go back down, they would be false springing and might do it at 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 months. Have had some do it several times. If you dont know when they were bred, it is not possible to know for sure. When the belly fills out and the udder gets tight and she is swelling up behind, all three, then she is most likely actually springing----but once again, the definition of springing comes into play with answering the question

 

[bigbull338]

is something thats 6 months bred or better at 6 months heifers start dropping their baggs an at 8 months bred or better they start bagging up depending on the breed and will bag till they calve and some will wait till they are ready to calf before they bagg scott