Coming Together

[Grassfarmer]

Good luck with your cow sale on Thursday PC.

Good luck also with your semen venture NR - I think your timing is good with respect to a lot of producers coming to the realization that there have been a lot of poor genetics propagated that just don't hold up in the real world ranch environment. On the other hand with the national herd size decline and likely lots of cheap bulls around I can't help but think there will be less commercial guys looking to AI this year than last.

 

[Northern Rancher]

Actually GF it's usually easier to put together heifer breeding programs in tough times-when cattle are sky high you can breed heifers to a three legged billy goat and still sell them-when times are tough it's the cattle that have a little more to offer that still bring you some dollars. Cows at our auction mart on Friday averaged $300 less than we got for ours in the yard in December-I'd like to think it had a bit to do with genetics. I don't anybody will be buying a new truck off our deal but I'm confident we'll get our foot firmly in the door and get some good bulls out in the industry where they belong. You don't know how frustrating it was over the years to see a good older bull pulled out of the lineup so we could sell the perceived latest and greatest. It's going to be a fun spring for sure.

 

[Faster horses]

I don't think 'cheap bulls' has much to do with less people AI'ing.
There are two different mind sets. AI'ing is for progressive breeders that
want to enhance the genetics of thier cowherd. Cheap bulls are
for those who just like to get 'em bred cheap. We have both types
right here in our neighborhood. Those that are set up to AI, will
still do it. Those that buy cheap bulls will still do that. As I said,
two different mind sets. And perhaps age has something to do with
the 'cheap bull' mindset. A cheap bull never did us much good.

 

[Northern Rancher]

A good bull might be cheap at $5,000 while another might be expensive at $1200-Wayne Stevenson told me if you find the bull you need make sure you get him bought-sometimes it isn't the sale topper that will do you the most good. The days of put together salebarn heifers festooned with brands and bred to any one of six heifer fresheners hopefully are coming to an end. Good replacement heifers with some predictability should be worth a premium in any market and most times are-they are easier to stand behind also. I got used pretty hard by a big 'NAME' outfit as a young guy on some breds-trust me I never forgot the lesson or bought another hoof from them.