Well I think I got that thought out of my mind

Help Support CattleToday:

CowboyRam

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2021
Messages
2,404
Reaction score
5,067
Location
Riverton Wyoming
I have been playing with the idea of keeping a couple small heifers I have to use as replacements. They are probably only around 300 pounds, they probably calved in late June early July. I usually don't keep heifers because I don't have place to keep them, but could probably keep a couple here at the farm all summer, there would be enough grass for two. I would also have to buy heifer bull or find someone to breed them for me. If I do that I would not bread them until 2026, but they would not calve out until 2027. I want to try to keep them in line with the rest of the herd. I could also raise them to butcher, but I don't really need the meat, as the my last cow I butchered was a big cow and I have enough meat to last for another year. I also don't really see the value in retaining these heifers.

I think I have got myself talked into selling everything this year. This would give me more money to buy another replacement cow which will help with next years bottom line. I also kind of have a feeling that this season will be the peak for the high prices, but who knows. My crystal ball has been wrong more than it is right.
 
I have been playing with the idea of keeping a couple small heifers I have to use as replacements. They are probably only around 300 pounds, they probably calved in late June early July. I usually don't keep heifers because I don't have place to keep them, but could probably keep a couple here at the farm all summer, there would be enough grass for two. I would also have to buy heifer bull or find someone to breed them for me. If I do that I would not bread them until 2026, but they would not calve out until 2027. I want to try to keep them in line with the rest of the herd. I could also raise them to butcher, but I don't really need the meat, as the my last cow I butchered was a big cow and I have enough meat to last for another year. I also don't really see the value in retaining these heifers.

I think I have got myself talked into selling everything this year. This would give me more money to buy another replacement cow which will help with next years bottom line. I also kind of have a feeling that this season will be the peak for the high prices, but who knows. My crystal ball has been wrong more than it is right.
I think females are pretty flexible going into next year, especially if they're pretty nice specimens.

I consider myself new new new. Knowing how supply/demand works though, I don't see how females are not quite valuable for the next few years. Unless there is no future of the US cow herd replenishing it's numbers. (imported beef would be the future at that point, or fake protein, or bugs 😃)

I've decided to keep all that are worthy the next year to two. Probably a terrible decision (Kenny Thomas would disagree I think) , but they can be finished for beef, sold as opens, sold as breds, sold as pairs, or kept as part of the herd.

The price they're paying right now sure is attractive though. It's been an everyday thought ad to what i could have done with the cash out of my 2023 heifers I've got in with the bull right now. I'm stubborn though 😆, and like to learn things the worst way possible.
 
Maybe ahead of the curve also....

Could go the other way.
Man, could you believe I almost sold everything last fall. Lol

Producers may finally get what has been deserved for a long while. No, it won't stay forever. But short on beef is short on beef.
 
You should hold back heifers when prices are down. They will be in their prime and producing when prices are high. Prices will most likely be down by the time a heifer held back now produces a calf to sell.
 
What kind of cows were they out of, @CowboyRam ? And what kind of bull were they by? Is this the typical weight of your 6 month old calves? If not, and if they are weaning smaller than normal for your operation, why would you want to raise them to put in your brood cow herd?
Why these two heifers? Was there something wrong with them? I would have expected heavier weights at that age.

Ken
I don't think there is anything wrong with them, they are just younger than the rest. One of the calves is out of a red angus cow, most likely sired by a black angus bull. The other is black baldie sired by my black hereford bull, not sure what cow, but most likely a black angus cow. I usually sell all of my calves and keep one or two to feed as a beef.

I pretty much have decided to sell them all at the sale next month. I don't want to calve out heifers anyway.
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with them, they are just younger than the rest. One of the calves is out of a red angus cow, most likely sired by a black angus bull. The other is black baldie sired by my black hereford bull, not sure what cow, but most likely a black angus cow. I usually sell all of my calves and keep one or two to feed as a beef.

I pretty much have decided to sell them all at the sale next month. I don't want to calve out heifers anyway.
Since I went to commercial a few years back, I sell all my calves at weaning. The past 2 years I have had someone buy my heifers and he raises them for replacements, but I don't have the pasture to keep one after it is weaned. That would take up space I could have another brood cow on. I may have to raise some before too long, though. My cows are 6-10 years old. My grandpa has about a 50 acre cotton field adjoining me on the back of my place. It is fenced on 3 sides, so I'd have to fence the part along the road. If I can talk him out of it, we can get grants to cross fence it and to sow it. Fencing costs so much these days, but I don't like to bring new cattle on to my place. I would probably AI about 10-12 a year, sexed semen, until I got them all replaced. I guess it will depend on how this deal I have this year goes, and what he wants to do next year, etc. Push comes to shove, I know several reputable breeders I could get the kind of reg Brangus I want from, but right now they are gonna want $3k-$3.5k for them. Or more. Then again, they don't have to be reg Brangus for me to do what I am doing with this man. But, he is in his 70's, and I don't know how much longer this arrangement will be available. Sorry, just thinking it out loud.
 
Maybe ahead of the curve also....

Could go the other way.
Man, could you believe I almost sold everything last fall. Lol

Producers may finally get what has been deserved for a long while. No, it won't stay forever. But short on beef is short on beef.
I still may sell most all of them next year to two if numbers get right. 4 to 5 grand fat pairs would be fantastic. 3 to 4 grand fat young breds. I'd cut em all loose probably.
 
I still may sell most all of them next year to two if numbers get right. 4 to 5 grand fat pairs would be fantastic. 3 to 4 grand fat young breds. I'd cut em all loose probably.

Hard to turn down a payday like that for sure.
Have to keep a couple back, life would get boring without them.
Would have to mow grass all summer, rather have a few edible pets.
No vacations around here!
 

Latest posts

Top