Wait until dry?

[Lazy M]

Have 2 older cows that lost their calves. Should I wait until they dry up to sell these witches?

 

[Bigfoot]

Have 2 older cows that lost their calves. Should I wait until they dry up to sell these witches?

6 of one, half dozen of the other. If I have one lose in in the spring, I usually let em fatten on grass. The fall, I move em before I have to feed em hay.

 

[Nesikep]

do you have the hay to feed them or are they costing you daily? any chance you might regret it if you have an orphan twin? Doesn't sound like you like them at all.. you can just as well get rid of them..

 

[Lazy M]

I'd always heard that they sold better dry. I don't know why as they'll prob have a pretty direct route to slaughter, but I've never really paid close enough attention to the weigh cows selling to see if there is really much of a price difference.

 

[Lazy M]

do you have the hay to feed them or are they costing you daily? any chance you might regret it if you have an orphan twin? Doesn't sound like you like them at all.. you can just as well get rid of them..

I have the hay. Both of these cows don't have a good enough temperament for me to attempt to graft one on them and their old enough that I don't feel bad not trying to salvage them with an orphan.

 

[Nesikep]

Maybe give them 2 weeks to a month or so, let them clean out and then send them off, if someone wants to put condition on them on grass that's not too far off by then.

 

[js1234]

do you have the hay to feed them or are they costing you daily? any chance you might regret it if you have an orphan twin? Doesn't sound like you like them at all.. you can just as well get rid of them..

I have the hay. Both of these cows don't have a good enough temperament for me to attempt to graft one on them and their old enough that I don't feel bad not trying to salvage them with an orphan.

Roll them.

 

[fenceman]

do you have the hay to feed them or are they costing you daily? any chance you might regret it if you have an orphan twin? Doesn't sound like you like them at all.. you can just as well get rid of them..

I have the hay.

Both of these cows don't have a good enough temperament for me to attempt to graft one on them and their old enough that I don't feel bad not trying to salvage them with an orphan.

Roll them.

X2 if their in decent flesh sell em.

 

[Ebenezer]

Roll them.

X2 if their in decent flesh sell em.

X3.

 

[talltimber]

Why would you not get them bred back before you sold? 1200 pound kill cow is what, $1,000 or so? Bred cows of a decent age and and look are bringing up around 1500 or so at the sale barn, more private sale.

 

[Lazy M]

I'd rather not sell anyone a bred cow that I wouldn't be willing to keep.

 

[talltimber]

I understand, and I wouldn't try to pass something on by misrepresentation.

I didn't see where you said why you were selling, just that they lost calves, and they were older cows. Old doesn't mean unwanted, as I see folks here bragging/recommending how much they make buying bred smooth mouth cows. As for losing calves, it could've been caused by too much benign neglect, or a chucacabra.

I was giving the cow the benefit of a doubt that it was her fault, I guess.

 

[fenceman]

To me it's economics. If she's not carrying or nursing a calf, she's basically on welfare. Going to be 12 at the very best before she gives me another calf. I generally ship them and replace with a bred cow.
Got to be a good one with a good reason to get a chance at staying

 

[Lazy M]

I understand, and I wouldn't try to pass something on by misrepresentation.

I didn't see where you said why you were selling, just that they lost calves, and they were older cows. Old doesn't mean unwanted, as I see folks here bragging/recommending how much they make buying bred smooth mouth cows. As for losing calves, it could've been caused by too much benign neglect, or a chucacabra.

I was giving the cow the benefit of a doubt that it was her fault, I guess.

Both these cows must be getting around 13-14 yrs old. They're in good flesh and I'd rather sell quickly than wait for them to breed. If I did that I'd probably just keep them anyway

 

[talltimber]

I understand. That makes sense to me.