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Breeding Season is over

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Anonymous

Guest
Breeding Season is over, what should I do with the bull?
(Submitted by Bill Halfman, UW Extension Agent, Monroe County (adapted from Jim Neel, University of Tennessee)

This is a frequently asked question from farmers who are striving for a short and definite breeding/calving season in their efforts to produce a uniform calf crop as well as how to manage and feed the bull until the next breeding season. My question back is, “Have you considered selling him and purchasing a better bull prior to the next breeding season?”

Recently in August, bulls marketed in Wisconsin weekly auction markets have been bringing $60.00 to $64.00/cwt for those with a low dressing percent where as those with a high dressing percent classification fetched $69.00 to $76.00/cwt. Commonly those bulls classified as low dressing percentage are lighter muscled and have less condition, therefore expected to yield a lower percentage of carcass weight compared to live weight. For example, an 1800 lb. bull could sell for $1100 to $1350 using the mid-range ($64.00 to $69.00/cwt) described above.

If the bull is maintained for another year, the winter feed bill alone could cost around $400. If we consider a yardage cost for wear and tear on fences, facilities, and related expenses, this can add another $100 to the cost of keeping the bull on the farm. In addition, if this bull has been used in the cow herd for the last two years, this could result in the bull potentially breeding some of his progeny this next spring. Therefore the producer may want to consider introducing new genetics for the next breeding season as well.

If the bull is sold after the breeding season, the total dollars profited would be about $1600 to $1850 with the expense of maintaining the bull. This money could be used to invest in a replacement bull next spring that would be of “better genetic” potential than the “old bull.”

While this is not a common practice most cow-calf producers use, producers should consider “putting the pencil to the paper” of this option compared to keeping the bull around for another year.

WI Beef Information Center

University of Wisconsin Extension
 

Doug Thorson

Well-known member
Another way to look at it is that you could winter 2 cows for every bull, course us bull raisers always are looking at ways to sell more bulls. :wink: :wink: :oops: :oops:

Truth is if you like what you got, it is hard to replace them for a reasonable price, but if there are any questions,,,,,,,,now might be a good time to dump and be happy.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
There have been a lot of $1600-$1700+ bulls selling at the ring the last few weeks....Top I saw last week was a 2235 lb bull that sold for $80...Some big cull cows selling for over $1000...
 

PureCountry

Well-known member
I dumped 3 dry cows and 3 "extra" bulls today. 2 four year old bulls and a 3yr old. Don't have enough cows to use them, and when I put pencil to paper and figure out the cost of turning them into jerky, this made more sense. Jerky costs money to make, and especially package/label. By the time I figure those costs in to the pounds we'd get out of 3 bulls, it's about the same as selling them with the price so high these days. The bonus is that we got the cheque without having to run the meat around the country to farmer's markets. :wink:
 

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