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Five thousand dollars – that’s what the average commercial producer spends on a bull. While most commercial producers don’t spend that kind of money on their females, it’s safe to say bulls are a big investment, one producers shouldn’t overlook come winter.
Many of us have had those “crazy” animals that don’t quite seem worth the hassle. But, have you ever considered that crazy cows might actually be hurting your bottom line?
It’s always critical for cow-calf producers to deliver weaned calves desirable to cattle buyers and feedlot operators. In these uncertain times of COVID-19, market pressures and shrinking bottom lines, it’s even more crucial to get it right.
Do 700-pound calves make you more money than say, 400-pound calves? After all, we know only one of these weights will get you bragging rights at the coffee shop.
In February, I discussed the benefits of maintaining a controlled calving season to produce an older, heavier and more uniform calf crop, reduce the risk of disease spreading among calves, simplify cow herd vaccination schedules and nutritional programs, and streamline more scheduled labor needs.
DNA testing using thousands of markers, called genomic prediction, has arrived in the beef industry, and it isn’t going anywhere. But why should cattle producers, especially seedstock breeders, use this technology?
Artificial insemination (A.I.) is a great way to advance herd genetics. You can access bulls offering superior traits to what a herd sire might offer and gain the ability to sire more uniform calves.
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