What to cull?

FarmerDavid · #1 11/28/12, 01:14 PM

Im not quite to the point that i need to cull some cattle because of a lack of pasture but im not far off. Ive got plenty to get me through the winter, but an acre can only support so many head. Im curious how others determine which cows to cull so i can start looking at my cattle with an eye toward that.

I dont have any that i would consider an obvious cull. If i had more land i, at this point, would keep them all no doubt. But I dont and some will need to be culled. Culling now, if done properly, should result in an improved herd going forward.

I only have one cow over 30 months and shes far from old. I dont want to cull her because her genetics are recognized within the breed and i bought her to sell some of her calves and get my name out there. So age really isnt a concern.

What factors do you use?

Bret · #2 11/28/12, 01:28 PM

My vet and mentor answered me with, "you will know when you know."

I have a flexible 3 strikes system. I don't cull for one thing unless it is attitude or safety. They're attitude effects my attitude too.

I just culled the matriarch of my herd. I loved her but I was starting to push my luck. She was registered Angus cow and the last that I started with. Age was was an issue. She was not showing it yet. She had very large teats, one in particular. I was starting to worry about it. She was too large to fit in my portable chute, so I could not handle her to breed and treat her safely. She needed to eat too much. She was good at keeping others away from feed. This summer, I had the ussual fly issues and one other cow did not like me to work in the herd with the sprayer. She always ran away and got the others too excited. This cow seemed to be a fly carrier above all of the others. I did not love her and I did not get her bred. I let her go at the same time. Hope this helps.

Gabriel · #3 11/28/12, 01:35 PM

Remember the 3 O's: open, ornery, old. I also select for hair coat, there seems to be a high correlation between that and overall performance.

francismilker · #4 11/28/12, 11:16 PM

I cull based upon ability to keep condition with less feed. If a cow's an easy keeper, she's a keeper. The reason I even mess with cows is to sell calves. The cheaper I can raise a calf to selling weight, the more of a chance the mama cow has to stay.

This also includes the cost of medicine and any other vet care they might need.

And, as gabriel mentioned, haircoat will inform you a lot.

Gabriel · #5 11/29/12, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francismilker

I cull based upon ability to keep condition with less feed. If a cow's an easy keeper, she's a keeper. The reason I even mess with cows is to sell calves. The cheaper I can raise a calf to selling weight, the more of a chance the mama cow has to stay.

I watched my small herd closely this past year, specifically for which ones would slick up first in the spring. Those animals were the first to regain condition, dealt the best with the heat and bred back quicker.

G. Seddon · #6 11/29/12, 08:39 AM

Hair coat....interesting! This was just one of the topics addressed at a beef cattle mgt. course I attended last spring. Hair coat, shedding (including shedding patterns) and their relation to diet and other things are being studied. If you google "cattle hair coat studies," you will find several good articles about this.

MO_cows · #7 11/29/12, 10:53 AM

If there isn't a reason to cull them, just need to trim your numbers, then market them locally and sell them off the farm. Just because your herd has out-grown your grass doesn't mean you need to run them to the sale barn and sell at "kill cow" prices.

fitz · #8 12/01/12, 06:17 AM

disposition/udder/mothering ability/timely breed backs/weaning weights/maintaining condition with calf on her/ thriving in enviroment (mainly fescue forage)

fitz

FarmerDavid · #9 12/03/12, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO_cows

If there isn't a reason to cull them, just need to trim your numbers, then market them locally and sell them off the farm. Just because your herd has out-grown your grass doesn't mean you need to run them to the sale barn and sell at "kill cow" prices.

I dont know why i needed to hear this but i did. How do you recomend this? Craigslist? Local classifieds?

The hair coat is interesting, just started googling that, good info.

MO_cows · #10 12/03/12, 03:14 PM

We have used craiglist, a flyer at the feed n seed, local paper. Also don't forget there is a barter board on this forum. I think a lot of people appreciate seeing the herd of origin and being able to ask questions, epecially the ones who aren't experienced or confident they can pick out the "good ones" at the sale. And there is less of a "bio-hazard" by not going thru the sale. Some good cattle get sold at the sale barn, of course, but that is also where people unload their problems.