kenny thomas
Well-known member
Ever notice at some stockyards there is an estate sale every couple weeks. It takes the traders that long to gather up enough cows to advertise another estate sale.
You aren't speaking from personal experience now are you Mr. Kenny?Ever notice at some stockyards there is an estate sale every couple weeks. It takes the traders that long to gather up enough cows to advertise another estate sale.
X 45 years and with the right instructors. Wish I could spend a few days with you.You learn a lot when you go to the stockyard 50+ times a year.
It can easily be crafted into a short few paragraphs if you are looking to maximize your profit by raising calves.Hey guys I am new to the site but been running cattle for about 17 years here in Southeastern Ky. I know this is a massive question and hard to breakdown in a few paragraphs but what would some of you veteran cattlemen suggest I do to right the ship after years of mismanagement? I have a three year old son that is a die hard farmer so I want to try my best to have a system figured out by the time he's able to participate if that's what he chooses to do. So let's hear it guys I'm all ears! Thanks!
Absolutely. This estate sold 107 head though. I went to the barn while they was trucking them in and looked them all over. Education isn't free so I try to learn from my mistakes as well as others very quickly.Ever notice at some stockyards there is an estate sale every couple weeks. It takes the traders that long to gather up enough cows to advertise another estate sale.
The bull seems like a major part of the operations success. How would I go about finding and choosing a bull that would be good for my conditions? We don't have a lot of good farms around us locally so finding something close would be very unlikely. It doesn't seem like a good idea to go to the farm lands of western Ky and buy a bull to bring and turn out on a strip pit here at home. Don't get me wrong the ground we run cattle on will grow and keep cattle in top notch condition. As good as anybody's around for that matter. I just don't want to spend top dollar for a bull that will lose condition when I turn him out at the house. What can I do to make sure that doesn't happen? Am I overthinking it or is that a real possibilty?
I did read the link you provided. I have heard of the cost share program but always been skeptical and never investigated it any further. How do I get information on how to sign up for that? Local extension office or? Not ignoring advice I just learned and grew up under old timers advice. Most of that being never trust or get tangled up with state and federal government and if it sounds to good to be true it is. There's always a catch some way or another. I'm hear to learn and take advice because I don't feel what I am doing is working to it's full potential. If you think it's a good idea and something I should look into I most definitely will. I just don't know anybody that's ever done it so I'm cautious.I don't know if you skipped or ignored but the state Kentucky will help buy bulls that improve your herd. There are just a few restrictions based on EPD's that you have to follow. The money comes from the National Tobacco Settlement.
Unfortunately it is becoming more difficult to find bulls that have been developed on nothing but grass, they are out there but you will have look.
Get rid of all the cows outside that 70% calving window, sell as cow/calf pairs if you need to. You'll have to be diligent and pull the bull(s) to maintain your preferred calving and have a uniform calf crop. If you retain heifers, only keep the ones from proven cows that consistently breed back/calve on time (I prefer within the first 3 weeks of calving season). Have your heifers pelvic measured and don't breed them until 15 months.I've noticed we have the majority of our calving issues outside of that 70% calving window. The cows calving here and there is where a lot of our issues arise. Could a man correct this over time or would you be money ahead to draw down and redo?
I think you can qualify for cost share on a bull or on bred heifers. It's actually not government money but money from a settlement with the tobacco companies and in Ky it was designed to help the farmers profit from something besides tobacco. Yes check with your extension agent.I did read the link you provided. I have heard of the cost share program but always been skeptical and never investigated it any further. How do I get information on how to sign up for that? Local extension office or? Not ignoring advice I just learned and grew up under old timers advice. Most of that being never trust or get tangled up with state and federal government and if it sounds to good to be true it is. There's always a catch some way or another. I'm hear to learn and take advice because I don't feel what I am doing is working to it's full potential. If you think it's a good idea and something I should look into I most definitely will. I just don't know anybody that's ever done it so I'm cautious.
May I ask which sale barn this was at? I go to lots of sales.Absolutely. This estate sold 107 head though. I went to the barn while they was trucking them in and looked them all over. Education isn't free so I try to learn from my mistakes as well as others very quickly.
Yep, Blue Grass Stockyards in Richmond Ky.May I ask which sale barn this was at? I go to lots of sales.
I did read the link you provided. I have heard of the cost share program but always been skeptical and never investigated it any further. How do I get information on how to sign up for that? Local extension office or? Not ignoring advice I just learned and grew up under old timers advice. Most of that being never trust or get tangled up with state and federal government and if it sounds to good to be true it is. There's always a catch some way or another. I'm hear to learn and take advice because I don't feel what I am doing is working to it's full potential. If you think it's a good idea and something I should look into I most definitely will. I just don't know anybody that's ever done it so I'm cautious.