Question about selling a heifer cow?

masawyer · #1 03/24/12, 02:13 PM

Our cow Rosie had a heifer calf on March 17th. The calf is a Holstein New Zealand Ayrshire. We are wanting to sell her. We were wondering if it would be worth keeping her a year and then selling her. How long would ya'll recommend us keeping her? Of course, we would like to get as much money as we can.

Thanks,

Marsha in OK

willow_girl · #2 03/24/12, 03:04 PM

It depends!

If the cow is giving more milk than you need (i.e., enough to feed the calf and supply your household), you might as well keep the calf 'til she's weaned.

If you have plenty of pasture and don't have to buy additional feed, it might be worth keeping her around even longer.

Be careful you don't get too attached to her in the meantime!

CIW · #3 03/24/12, 03:31 PM

If her momma is providing for her and she is healthy, she is making you money. The day you have to start feeding her you make less money. If she gets sick you loose money.
There are alot of people on the lookout for a future milk cow. She's worth alot vs. what your inputs are at this young age. There are people who want to fall in love with a hiefer that they have raised to a family milk cow.
You make your best profit at each end of the growth spectrum. Either before you have any input in her or keep her and sell her as a bred heifer. The next really good market comes after she has freshened and been bred back for a second calf. Because you've taught her to milk. She's proven.
Keeping her to a year old can take alot of profit out of the sale of dairy hiefers. Folks see them as having to put 2 more years in them before they get any return.
I'm guessing here, but I would say that if you let it be known out there, you can sell her in a heartbeat.
You may even find someone who would like to commit to her but wait until she is weaned for a better price with some cash up front.

masawyer · #4 03/24/12, 06:00 PM

Thanks for your replies.

Marsha in OK

springvalley · #5 03/24/12, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

It depends!

If the cow is giving more milk than you need (i.e., enough to feed the calf and supply your household), you might as well keep the calf 'til she's weaned.

If you have plenty of pasture and don't have to buy additional feed, it might be worth keeping her around even longer.

Be careful you don't get too attached to her in the meantime!

What Willow_girl says is right on the target. > Thanks Marc