A breeder is a very important part of the future of the cattle industry. The products they make, i.e. calves, can determine the genetic potential of a beef herd. This is why it is vital to do business with a reputable one.
The cattle that will be entering your herd, whether that is the replacements you raise or the ones that you buy will steer what direction your herd goes in the future. It is during times like these are where a producer must make their decisions based on sound business judgment. This is not the time to let emotions get the better of you.
When it comes to cattle buying there is no shortage of sellers. All you have to do is take a quick look around social media to find that out. There are a lot of sellers. But that does not mean that all of them are the right ones to go with. It will be up to you to wade through all of the noise. The key is to find the one that will be right for you. Here are 4 things that you can follow to make the right choice.
The bull in your herd needs just as much care and attention during this time of year as your cows. You must take steps during this time to make sure that they are ready for the next breeding season. It is always a good idea to get started now so you will have plenty of time to make adjustments.
Deciding which cows to cull is not an easy task for most producers. Sometimes their personal feelings about that particular animal get in the way. There are even sometimes they do not even know which ones are underperforming and which ones need to be kept.
Heifer development can be one of the most challenging yet also rewarding tasks that can occur on the ranch. The very basis of your future depends on your ability to develop the young heifers into productive mothers. But these challenges do not come without problems.
You can feel it in the air, the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler. It will soon be the time that most producers do their fall processing. They will be running their cows through the chutes and for any spring-born calves they will be weaning them from their mommas.
Nutrition is one of those things that is important year-round. From just putting on weight for the market to reentering the reproduction cycle everything hinges on the cow’s nutritional needs being met. However, meeting these demands can be a little complicated.
What is the proper strategy to develop replacement heifers for my cowherd? This is a question many producers have asked themselves. Developing a replacement heifer is one of the most expensive management decisions a producer will make. Making this decision can have long-term impacts on your herd’s profitability.
Winter this year is going to be a rough time for producers. Worries about the drought and how it has affected forage production have taken a large part of our thoughts. Because of this, there will be limited to no stored forage available to feed cattle this winter.
Early pregnancy detection with your herd is a tool that producers can use to increase profits. It is of importance for a producer to know early if their replacement heifers or even cows are bred. Knowing this bit of information can save you a lot of money from wasting supplements for cows that are not producing.
Shrinkage is a very real concern when it comes time to sell your calves. This is because it is a reduction in the sales weight, which means a reduction in the price that you will get. Of course, some adjustments in price are common in order to compensate for varying shrinkage and gut fill.
