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Post by Glenn on Jul 28, 2014 8:39:38 GMT -6
What is your ranches' policy or your thoughts on selling females? I know some people sell NO FEMALES as breeders. All culls go through sale barn. Some will sell older cows but will never sell heifers. And some will sell heifers but never an older cow and some will sell anything.
So far, I have been in the "anything is for sale" category. I may be shifting my attitude on this as I can understand the "worry" of selling your "seed corn". I have also been hindered in keeping too many replacements because of the drought.
Just curious what you guys did or if you had any thoughts about why you think a certain policy is best.
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Post by hoekland on Jul 28, 2014 8:44:29 GMT -6
I sell all ages females, everytime I've sold females it has led to bull sales.
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Post by shumakerherefords on Jul 28, 2014 10:19:00 GMT -6
After I get yearling weights and scans on the replacements, I will offer a few for sale. All the cull heifers go to the feedlot (got tired of taking the 'Hereford discount' at the sale barn). This year that was very profitable. The heifers and steers all sold for $156 (with a 4% pencil shrink) on the week of July 6. The heifers gained 3.7 lb/day with a total cost of gain of $0.86/pound. I have calculated they brought $458/head more than if I had sold them at the sale barn back in mid December. Waiting on the carcass data, the last few years more than 2/3 of the heifers have graded choice.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 15:29:59 GMT -6
We have a saying "everything on the farm is for sale if the price is right." Depending on what we have on hand we usually have some heifers and sometimes young bred cows for sale as well as yearling bulls. The obvious culls will go to the sale barn: unproductive, old, or open females. We typically like to keep the top end of our heifers for replacements but we will sell nearly any of them if the price is right. You are in the business to make money, as much as you may like the potential of a heifer or a good cow in your herd if someone came along and makes an offer you can't refuse good business sense is to sell even if you weren't actively trying to market that animal for sale. Chances are you'll get repeat business if you sell someone a heifer that turns out well for them they will come back looking for more.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 4:55:49 GMT -6
Every summer when I start looking at herds I contact the people who sold me females first. Bought our Hereford bull on a recommendation from the breeder that sold us a female.
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Post by strojanherefords on Jul 30, 2014 17:16:00 GMT -6
Number one I think it is important to not sell anything that is questionable as breeding stock. I believe that your brand is the best advertisement that you can have.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 19:12:34 GMT -6
Every female we have may be on the auction block if this market gets any hotter.
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Post by hrndherf on Aug 9, 2014 0:27:54 GMT -6
Every female we have may be on the auction block if this market gets any hotter. Agree! Just bought the neighbors place and it is definitely the wrong year to save heifer calves to stock it. |
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Post by Mickelson on Aug 9, 2014 8:14:30 GMT -6
Guess I'm the idiot here. I am keeping the majority of the Hereford heifer calves and then I have decided to keep the bwf heifers for a future recip herd. Getting rid of very few. Biggest reason, I would like to see some of these cattle develop.
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Post by elkwc on Aug 9, 2014 8:43:54 GMT -6
It is a hard decision to make. And one we'll be making in a few months. May have a little more time if there is wheat pasture and we can run on it till late Feb. I know many didn't keep any when we kept the 25 this year. But if you look at what they brought and the cost of pairs it is still cheaper to save one and I like the fact I know who the sire is and what the mother has done. When you purchease a pair at a sale you don't know many times why she is there. So not sure what we will do. Know we will sale all 16 yearlings that we have now in two weeks. They are worth a lot of money and would need a separate pasture just for a few heifers. There is only 4-5 I would like to keep. A lot can happen with the market in 5-6 months.
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Post by Glenn on Aug 9, 2014 8:50:40 GMT -6
Chris, I think you are smart to keep your genetics and see what you've got. I've regretted selling so many heifers. Especially when I look at the few that I have kept. The thing is that in this market, I don't think any answer is wrong.
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Post by elkwc on Aug 9, 2014 10:04:50 GMT -6
Glenn I agree unless there is an unforeseen crash I feel any decision is likely ok. We've discussed when we should sell the 16 hd of yearlings. They are knee deep in good grass and putting on pounds everyday. They are in the 650-8 plus range now. Her son went to a sale this week and got a little nervous about what they were bringing and about a drop in prices. We had already decided on selling the 21st so will do that. I do think we will try to test all of the bulls(they have never been tested) and if any are bad sell them. She is bull heavy. So need to cut down but I first want to see if all are good or not and with the current prices I feel now if the time and they are in great condition. The cows have been bred for 60 days so just eating and balling.
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doh
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Post by doh on Aug 14, 2014 20:47:20 GMT -6
Ditto Chris.
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