selling bred cows

Gripshover · #1 03/17/15, 02:00 PM

I have a couple bred cows that I want to cull. They have fall calves on them 5-6 mos old. They are about 2-3 mos bred. some are a little thin. What would be my best option has far as selling them. I thought about weaning calves when we start to get some good grass, and then take the cows in in a month or 2 to sell. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Jennifer L. · #2 03/17/15, 05:49 PM

I'd sell the calves separately if they are that old. And if possible I'd keep the cows until they were closer to calving or at least until they've put on some weight.

Good luck with them.

FarmerDavid · #3 03/17/15, 07:13 PM

The condition of the cow will make a huge difference in sale price. Don't know your situation, facilities, ect but I'd probably wean them in a month or two, then the culls can have good grass to eat and no calf dragging them down. Bred third period will make you money also, $200 from my recent experience. Probably do good selling the calves straight off the tit if you need to.

kycrawler · #4 03/17/15, 08:51 PM

If you have the feed wean the calves after good grass comes on and put some weight on the cows and get them a little closer to calving

Gripshover · #5 03/19/15, 10:23 AM

Thank you for the advice. I think Ill probabl seel the calves in a month or 2. then sell the cows in a couple mos.

Wanda · #6 03/19/15, 12:48 PM

Check out the feeder calf market before you invest much in feed. The market now is paying almost as much per head for light calves as they are for the bigger ones. This is one of the few times I have seen that early weaned calves are the most profitable. Save the grass to put weight on the cows for a couple or three months.

FarmerDavid · #7 03/19/15, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanda

Check out the feeder calf market before you invest much in feed. The market now is paying almost as much per head for light calves as they are for the bigger ones. This is one of the few times I have seen that early weaned calves are the most profitable. Save the grass to put weight on the cows for a couple or three months.

I was looking at the market report last night and noticed the same thing. Very little difference in the price per head from 400-800#

Wanda · #8 03/20/15, 04:58 AM

I am 66 and this is one of the only times I can remember it being this way . The difference in price for the bigger calves just barely covers the fuel cost to haul the extra weight!