What would you do.

[Lon]

As some of you might recall I had bought some hiefers last year to breed. I made an agreement with my grandfather on running them. He would run them for me if I left them at his place to help me get started. So i went with it. This last fall i went to come up with a time to preg check them and he said why would you preg check them already. I guess this is because he doesnt believe in breeding them until 2 to calve at three because it makes better cows as long as you dont let them get fat before hand. Now he says since it is dry he might need me to take them. So here is the question. With just getting started what would you guys do? Keep and breed them, or sell them and buy bred cows that will calve this year. I am leaning twords selling them but i dont know how they would trade pounding them out to buy back bred cows. What do you all think.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Breed them.

 

[Gators Rule]

Breed them.

I'd vote to breed them too. Also, if I was leaving them on your grandfather's place, i would wait until 2 to breed...just to avoid "disrespecting" grandfather. BUT, if I moved them, i would breed at 14 to 16 months depending on when you want them calving...

 

[Kscattle]

If you have another place to put them I would breed them too. You might make a little money pounding them out but they won't make enough to buy bred or pairs.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

id breed em too. you will cut your herd numbers in half buying breds,, and spring around the corner...

 

[back2dfuture]

Get your own, place and breed them

 

[denvermartinfarms]

Breed, hope you have a place to put them.

 

[robert]

how old are they now? how heavy? If they're coming 2's now and over 1000 or 1100lbs I'd be tempted to finish them out and hang them up, use that to buy pairs or bred cows this spring.

 

[AllForage]

There is nothing wrong with breeding 2s to calve as 3s. Sounds like it is really up to your grandfather since he is the one there while they calve and does the daily chores.

With that said, if you ain't got nowhere to go with them then this conversation is pointless.

 

[H and H]

My initial reaction would be to breed them for all the reasons stated above: 1) that was the original agreemment with your grandad - he has been keeping his end of the deal for some time, etc. 2)Under normal circumstances they will appreciate in value for the next couple years (that being said, breeding stock around here has been down hard in price due to the ongoing drought).

This decision is predicated on a couple things: 1) you have a place to go with them 2) you have the resources (hay, pasture, time) to see this through for the next 15-18 months until you get a calf out of them to sell. If you can't do the above: put them in a yard and fatten them out, try to advance your money that way. Here in NE Neb, fats are worth more than bred heifers (quality heavy bred heifers are 1400-1500).

Let us know what you decide.

 

[robert]

Here in NE Neb, fats are worth more than bred heifers (quality heavy bred heifers are 1400-1500).

exactly!

 

[glacierridge]

robert, from the sounds of the last few comments on threads, you sound like you are itching to send a lot to slaughter yourself.
Go ahead. The less head count in the nation, the more solid price for the rest of us in the future. ;-)

 

[robert]

On the contrary, we are building cow numbers, all I am attempting to do is encourage some of the folks asking questions to look at the real economics of holding over unproductive cattle, perpetuating problems, enabling multiplication of problems and generally put themselves behind the 8 ball in moving forward.

 

[back2dfuture]

There is nothing wrong with breeding 2s to calve as 3s. Sounds like it is really up to your grandfather since he is the one there while they calve and does the daily chores.

With that said, if you ain't got nowhere to go with them then this conversation is pointless.

 

[glacierridge]

On the contrary, we are building cow numbers, all I am attempting to do is encourage some of the folks asking questions to look at the real economics of holding over unproductive cattle, perpetuating problems, enabling multiplication of problems and generally put themselves behind the 8 ball in moving forward.

Fair enough, some are harder to part with, depending on different variables. There are some that would be better retained, while most definitely some are better sent off as fast as humanly possible. I know my brother and I look at all factors.
Recently had one with a stillborn, she's young, this was her third, there was another that was old, on the chopping block anyway with a young calf. Brother kept the young and grafted the other calf on and sold the old girl to save feed since he knew he wouldn't be breeding her back anyway. If the cow with the stillborn wasn't a good animal, he likely would have just dumped both as soon as he could.

 

[robert]

Exactly, very pragmatic, but that is a whole lot different than going out and throwing money at a salebarn calf, most likely dairy bred and an inherent risk for Johnes.

 

[Lucky_P]

Not recommending disrespect, but just because granddad did it that way, doesn't mean it's right.

The old, 'calve 'em at 3' thing is wrong - both from an economic and scientific standpoint.
Pelvic sutures('joints' between pelvic bones) fuse at about 27 months of age; if you can get these heifers bred to calve out before then, there's more laxity and 'wiggle-room' to get a calf out through.
Additionally, if feed is adequate, those 3-yr old 'heifers' may be on the 'fat' side, making for even less room coming through that pelvic canal.

If you're gonna keep 'em, I'd breed 'em.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Not recommending disrespect, but just because granddad did it that way, doesn't mean it's right.

The old, 'calve 'em at 3' thing is wrong - both from an economic and scientific standpoint.
Pelvic sutures('joints' between pelvic bones) fuse at about 27 months of age; if you can get these heifers bred to calve out before then, there's more laxity and 'wiggle-room' to get a calf out through.
Additionally, if feed is adequate, those 3-yr old 'heifers' may be on the 'fat' side, making for even less room coming through that pelvic canal.

If you're gonna keep 'em, I'd breed 'em.

good info.. and exactly the kind i need.... thanks

 

[angie1]

The old, 'calve 'em at 3' thing is wrong - both from an economic and scientific standpoint.
Pelvic sutures('joints' between pelvic bones) fuse at about 27 months of age; if you can get these heifers bred to calve out before then, there's more laxity and 'wiggle-room' to get a calf out through.
Additionally, if feed is adequate, those 3-yr old 'heifers' may be on the 'fat' side, making for even less room coming through that pelvic canal.

If you're gonna keep 'em, I'd breed 'em.

good info.. and exactly the kind i need.... thanks

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[AllForage]

The old, 'calve 'em at 3' thing is wrong - both from an economic and scientific standpoint.
Pelvic sutures('joints' between pelvic bones) fuse at about 27 months of age; if you can get these heifers bred to calve out before then, there's more laxity and 'wiggle-room' to get a calf out through.
Additionally, if feed is adequate, those 3-yr old 'heifers' may be on the 'fat' side, making for even less room coming through that pelvic canal.

If you're gonna keep 'em, I'd breed 'em.

good info.. and exactly the kind i need.... thanks

Exactly what I was thinking.

Well you can explain that to some of my heifers who calve just fine as 3's and lactated for 8-9 months and they all bred back. I am not making an argument out of it, but it is simply not true. If heifers are grown out slowly on pasture and just hay there is nothing wrong with it. There is a cost to penning them up and feeding them up. Everyone is entitled to their own decision due to their resources. There could be an argument made on a longevity standpoint as well. Not talking your typical 8-9 year beef cow either.

Once again, sounds like grandpa is in charge and I would like to see any of you tell your grandpa what to do!

Still has not said if he has anywhere to go if gramps throws his cows off the place.