In the ear tag thread, a few posts talked of old cows.....Pasture them in River-Bottom, ect. . One comment was about if made sense to keep these in the finacial world......My answer is yes, but to expect them to need some help and give it to them....
First psrt as to the yes on keeping old cows. When you compare it to keeping replacements, they are a bargain. I work with thee cows so they produce at least decent calves. I hav also made some of my best money buying other folks old bred cows and working the mineral and feed to them.
Second part is to expect to have to help them. By managing these cows seperatelyt, I can keep them in condition to breed. Some of it is soft grass. Some of it is a little more supplement in the winter (By supplement I am talking grain, not licks or tubs). To do this cheaper, they need to be kept away from youger cows that will push them out.
Key is to keep condition on them so they breed back. Then it is a matter of waiting till they can't make a decent calf. I see a lot of guys selling ten year old cows that with care could have made 3-5 more calves or even more.
It is a lot cheaper than raising replacements. Plus, if you get your replacement percentage down, you ar keeping a higher grde of calf,
ok,
Done with my soapbox,
Pat
First psrt as to the yes on keeping old cows. When you compare it to keeping replacements, they are a bargain. I work with thee cows so they produce at least decent calves. I hav also made some of my best money buying other folks old bred cows and working the mineral and feed to them.
Second part is to expect to have to help them. By managing these cows seperatelyt, I can keep them in condition to breed. Some of it is soft grass. Some of it is a little more supplement in the winter (By supplement I am talking grain, not licks or tubs). To do this cheaper, they need to be kept away from youger cows that will push them out.
Key is to keep condition on them so they breed back. Then it is a matter of waiting till they can't make a decent calf. I see a lot of guys selling ten year old cows that with care could have made 3-5 more calves or even more.
It is a lot cheaper than raising replacements. Plus, if you get your replacement percentage down, you ar keeping a higher grde of calf,
ok,
Done with my soapbox,
Pat