What cows to cull?

[wobbie1775]

So I have about 20 cows that range from 4 months post-calf to probably bred. They are all horned, corriente-type cows. If i needed/wanted to cull about 5 due to summer grass slump... Should I cull the cows with calves or the bred cows? Assumption here is; no other differences other than where they are in the calf cycle (no bad personalities or wormy cows etc). If I sell the breds, they dont bring any more money at the Barn then opens... If I sell the pairs then I am accepting the risk that the bred cows might not calf etc. Just want to see your thoughts on this.

 

[kenny thomas]

First off if they are 4 months post calving they should be 1 month bred at least.
I rarely sell pairs.

 

[who cares]

Here cow calf pairs are dinged vs splitting them and selling as bred cow and 400 lb calf. Market here is down, but you'd still get $800 for calf that size. I feel like the pairs here you just give away the calf.
But 4 months is young to sell.

 

[wobbie1775]

First off if they are 4 months post calving they should be 1 month bred at least.
I rarely sell pairs.

Fair point. They are certainly exposed so if I took them to the barn they would get a preg check too.

 

[wobbie1775]

Here cow calf pairs are dinged vs splitting them and selling as bred cow and 400 lb calf. Market here is down, but you'd still get $800 for calf that size. I feel like the pairs here you just give away the calf.
But 4 months is young to sell.

Our barn here splits in the ring if it will be beneficial. And I have no 400lb calves (beefmaster on corriente...so at 4 months maybe they are 300 lbs?)

 

[who cares]

Horned sell ok there or are you going to exotics sale? Can you tell almost no horns around me - horns get cull prices often.
Maybe sell privately?
Do you need the higher dollar the cow calf may get you?
If cows have been running with bull 3-4 months, id preg check and sell the opens.

 

[Travlr]

Honestly... I wouldn't know which to cull. I'm not trying to be harsh, but I've never seen a Corriente worth investing in or as a source of income. If it was me, I'd get rid of them all and buy some cows that would pay the bills.

Of course you may have a way of making them work, and if you do I salute you.

 

[kenny thomas]

Our barn here splits in the ring if it will be beneficial. And I have no 400lb calves (beefmaster on corriente...so at 4 months maybe they are 300 lbs?)

I seen a report from Paris TX a few days ago with some 300lb calves bringing up over $4. Some 2wts up to 4.80.

 

[wobbie1775]

Honestly... I wouldn't know which to cull. I'm not trying to be harsh, but I've never seen a Corriente worth investing in or as a source of income. If it was me, I'd get rid of them all and buy some cows that would pay the bills.

Of course you may have a way of making them work, and if you do I salute you.

I know you mean no harm lol. I appreciate the honesty. I am slowly upgrading.... Got the nice bull now. And picking up a South Poll cow with a heifer calf this weekend... So some of the cor cows need to go to cover the cost of the new cow and open some real estate. There in lies the original question. I will probably just keep culling for personality... I have a couple who are a little aloof, and I am not real fond of that. And I probably wont cull them until thier calves are weaned and sell both at the same time.

 

[wobbie1775]

Horned sell ok there or are you going to exotics sale? Can you tell almost no horns around me - horns get cull prices often.
Maybe sell privately?
Do you need the higher dollar the cow calf may get you?
If cows have been running with bull 3-4 months, id preg check and sell the opens.

These corriente types are bringing .80 to 1.05 at the barn here. They are only 6-8 weights maybe...so 500-800$ a head for a cow.

I dont really "need" the higher dollar. I am running out of grass so something has to give. Just dont want to leave money on the table if I can avoid it.

 

[StrojanHerefords]

I would arm the cows to see if they open or not.

 

[wbvs58]

If things are tough the first thing I would do is wean the calves, cows would do a lot better then and you can then decide which ones to go. A bit of hand feeding the calves and then decide how you will market them.

Ken

 

[who cares]

Does corriente taste good?? At those prices I'd be selling beef instead - even your cheapest hamburger here gets $4 lb. Nothing low price would end up in auction, it would go to butcher. I know it's hard to butcher what appears to be cows in prime, but I cull hard and they go to beef. That's bred, not bred, 3 years old etc - it's hard to get hamburger wrong . But if good for cuts, you'll get way more.
There's also dog food market that $2 lb if you find the breeders feeding it.
Our farmers market guys sell jerky, summer sausage etc for premium and they use their culls for it. Even the butcher buys cows for it.
I know all this is a hassle but I live marketing hassles - it's especially important if you have a different product, or a breed that you can't market well at auction , which is what you have.

 

[wobbie1775]

Does corriente taste good?? At those prices I'd be selling beef instead - even your cheapest hamburger here gets $4 lb. Nothing low price would end up in auction, it would go to butcher. I know it's hard to butcher what appears to be cows in prime, but I cull hard and they go to beef. That's bred, not bred, 3 years old etc - it's hard to get hamburger wrong . But if good for cuts, you'll get way more.
There's also dog food market that $2 lb if you find the breeders feeding it.
Our farmers market guys sell jerky, summer sausage etc for premium and they use their culls for it. Even the butcher buys cows for it.
I know all this is a hassle but I live marketing hassles - it's especially important if you have a different product, or a breed that you can't market well at auction , which is what you have.

I am real thankful for your thoughts on this. I haven't taken any critters to the butcher yet, so I guess I need to go see what that process looks like. To your point, even eating it would be "making money" over paying for store bought beef lol

 

[chaded]

Can you sell them all and buy 10 nice cows? Lol I'm just kidding around.

 

[Hpacres440p]

I am real thankful for your thoughts on this. I haven't taken any critters to the butcher yet, so I guess I need to go see what that process looks like. To your point, even eating it would be "making money" over paying for store bought beef lol

One thing to pay attention to is if the butcher will accept horned cattle beyond a certain span. Our USDA has a 28" limit due to chute width, etc. probably less stress on the animals too if they aren't fighting their way all the way to the end

 

[wobbie1775]

Can you sell them all and buy 10 nice cows? Lol I'm just kidding around.

Probably could get 7 nice ones lol

 

[wobbie1775]

One thing to pay attention to is if the butcher will accept horned cattle beyond a certain span. Our USDA has a 28" limit due to chute width, etc. probably less stress on the animals too if they aren't fighting their way all the way to the end

Good idea. I'll be sure to ask them about that.