Cow lost calf keep or sell

Madden171

Hi folks
My pedigree cow just lost her calf last nignt. He was 3 months old Shes a good cow should I put a calf on her if she takes to it and bull her Or dry her up and sell her .

Willfarman

Putting a calf on her would be preferable. What breed is she and what's her temperament like?

Kovu

How old is the cow? If it were mine I'd look at her age/temperament and past progeny and decide then. If she's bred well prior to this and you think she has the right mindset and is quiet enough to foster a calf, go for it.

If not, I'd fatten and factory around midsummer when prices tend to be best for cows.

Madden171

I can get a calf from a neighbour see if she takes. She's a limo mas du clo cow very thick cow . I have one heifer from her a good heifer. Her temperment is ok . I might give her a chance
Cheers

Miname

Madden171 wrote: »

I can get a calf from a neighbour see if she takes. She's a limo mas du clo cow very thick cow . I have one heifer from her a good heifer. Her temperment is ok . I might give her a chance
Cheers

Out the door with her, there not worth holding. If the calf was three months old and she's not back in calf already then she's already slipped at least two weeks. I've been unlucky to loose three calves this year, one on a Sunday morning and I had her sold that evening, another two days ago and she was sold yesterday. Bring them straight out and get a nice bulling heifer or a cow with calf at foot.

Dozer1

get rid, the time spent fighting with a cow to let a new calf to drink, it just takes too much time and effort.

tismesoitis

Agree with Dozer. The only way is be ruthless. Any cow that's not incalf after a given time should be out ,loses a calf out, breeds poorly out,bad temperament and for any other reason that may make management difficult or impact negatively on the bottom line of out the gate

patsy_mccabe

I dunno about that. A good pedigree cow can be worth a lot of money. Is she in calf? If not, she'll come bulling now that her calf is gone.

tismesoitis

Your right Patsy she could be worth a few bob and that's exactly my point cash her in now

Madden171

Thanks for replies, she's about 750kg weight what kind of money could she make in the matt I've not being in a while.

tismesoitis

Is she incalf ? After mas du clo how's her breeding? Stars? If all the above are favourable maybe done deal wud be a better option.

patsy_mccabe

tismesoitis wrote: »

Agree with Dozer. The only way is be ruthless. Any cow that's not incalf after a given time should be out ,loses a calf out, breeds poorly out,bad temperament and for any other reason that may make management difficult or impact negatively on the bottom line of out the gate

God, Id have nothing left.

tanko

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

God, Id have nothing left.

Was just thinking the same myself:D

What is your replacement rate timesoitis?
I take your point about getting rid of problem cows if possible tho.

Madden171

She's a mas du Clo x ferry cow . What sort of money is cows making in the mart at 750kg weight . I'd be afraid she'd get mastitis. Not sure still what to do with her .

tismesoitis

Replacement rate here is +-20%. Have 80 calving always aim to serve 90 of which give or take 1 or 2 10 won't go incalf. Then hand pick another 6 or 8 that we just think we'd be better off without. The last 3 yrs have served 20 heifers always 1 or 2 of these don't go incalf. (Only AI these once after cidr then 4 weeks with the bull.)

blue5000

tismesoitis wrote: »

Replacement rate here is +-20%. Have 80 calving always aim to serve 90 of which give or take 1 or 2 10 won't go incalf. Then hand pick another 6 or 8 that we just think we'd be better off without. The last 3 yrs have served 20 heifers always 1 or 2 of these don't go incalf. (Only AI these once after cidr then 4 weeks with the bull.)

I think that's a 25% replacement rate. Not saying my herd is perfect either by the way.

Base price

Madden171 wrote: »

Hi folks
My pedigree cow just lost her calf last nignt. He was 3 months old Shes a good cow should I put a calf on her if she takes to it and bull her Or dry her up and sell her .

Madden171 wrote: »

I can get a calf from a neighbour see if she takes. She's a limo mas du clo cow very thick cow . I have one heifer from her a good heifer. Her temperment is ok . I might give her a chance
Cheers

Madden171 wrote: »

She's a mas du Clo x ferry cow . What sort of money is cows making in the mart at 750kg weight . I'd be afraid she'd get mastitis. Not sure still what to do with her .

IF she is a "good" pedigree cow than personally I wouldn't cull her but it really depends on your financial circumstances and how much you rate her in your herd.
Normally there are no problems with mastitis at this time of the year as it's easier to dry them off without the additional problem with flies.

Tyson Lannister

I have a lovely pedigree cow that suffers from prolapsed uterus every year and I know I should get rid but she is breeding great calves. I know some year I won't be around at calving....

tismesoitis

Ah here Blue I did say 1 or 2 of the heifers never make it into the herd!! Let's split the difference 22.5% .

Base price

I don't keep suckler/pbr's any more but I would consider an annual cull rate of 22.5/25% to be a failure of both my husbandry and management skills unless your in a start up situation.
I operated an 80 cow pbr/suckler herd with followers to beef and never had a 25% cull rate. Natural wastage is a given.

Bullocks

Base price wrote: »

I don't keep suckler/pbr's any more but I would consider an annual cull rate of 22.5/25% to be a failure of both my husbandry and management skills unless your in a start up situation.
I operated an 80 cow pbr/suckler herd with followers to beef and never had a 25% cull rate. Natural wastage is a given.

I wouldn't fault that cull rate at all , especially when you have big numbers and the pick of nice heifers coming . Younger dry cows go for good money around here .
Young cow with calf at foot makes good money too and its no harm for cashflow early in the year before weaning aswell

Base price

Bullocks wrote: »

I wouldn't fault that cull rate at all , especially when you have big numbers and the pick of nice heifers coming . Younger dry cows go for good money around here .
Young cow with calf at foot makes good money too and its no harm for cashflow early in the year before weaning aswell

Maybe but I still reckon a cull rate of 22.5/25% is overly excessive. Having said that I operated a complete system where I finished cattle (excluding sales of pbr's) including cull cows.
Worlds apart from where I'm now - rearing FR/JEx bull calves

tismesoitis

The cull rate is by choice Base!! Bad form doubting my management skills!!! If you read my post properly you would see that approx 10 out of 90 served don't go incalf. According to you it's bad practice to cull an under performing animal despite having a higher rated replacement!!!

Base price

tismesoitis wrote: »

The cull rate is by choice Base!! Bad form doubting my management skills!!! If you read my post properly you would see that approx 10 out of 90 served don't go incalf. According to you it's bad practice to cull an under performing animal despite having a higher rated replacement!!!

Please don't twist my quote out of context. I clearly stated that if the animal was "good" within the herd and dependent on financial circumstances then I would keep her.
I would consider 10 out of 90 not in calf as management failure unless you have a veterinary/health issue within the herd.

tismesoitis

In a 12 week time frame??? Go away would ya that's sh1t talk

Base price

tismesoitis wrote: »

In a 12 week time frame??? Go away would ya that's sh1t talk

Really :rolleyes:
Anyway best of luck with your enterprise.

Miname

Base price wrote: »

Really :rolleyes:
Anyway best of luck with your enterprise.

My replacement rate this year will be around 28%. I wouldn't call it a failure at all. I've better heifers coming on and I'm going with a 6 week spread next year. I might be lucky if I get away with that. Cull cows can pay for and leave a few quid after a better replacement is brought in.

stantheman1979

I wouldn't call it failure either. If you've spent yrs breeding cattle it would be silly to sell/ kill good breeding heifers. Especially with the star ratings coming in over the next few yrs. IMO it's farmers who hold onto dry /problem sucklers just because they usually rear a good calf that have bad management skills. Why spend money keeping an animal that isn't going to make u money?!!!!!

tismesoitis

Exactly!! Hope to have calving back to 10 weeks for next year because I work off farm.

stantheman1979

The dairy men wouldnt keep a dry cow no matter her past history. After scanning here I sold all the dry ewes and even a few that were due singles and went out and bought older ewes scanned with twins for almost the same money. Were running a business here people not a petting zoo. There is no room for sentiment!! If you're car is giving trouble you would replace it so the same should go with animals

Bullocks

tismesoitis wrote: »

Exactly!! Hope to have calving back to 10 weeks for next year because I work off farm.

Do you take time off for calving and do you calf them indoors?

tismesoitis

No calve them out in a summer calving system. Lucky job is very flexible if I take time off I can work it up later.

Limestone Cowboy

Up around 20% replacement rate here too, can never have enough replacement heifers coming on stream I think. Have 10 for this year with 45 cows.