| Re-stocking Considerations |
|
||||
| Ag Home Page |
| Agricultural Staff |
| Consulting Program |
| Plant Image Gallery |
| Internships |
| Recommended External Links |
| Search: |
| or Search by Keyword: |
 Livestock: March 1999 Other Livestock Articles |
|
by Clay Wright |
Due to the severity of last summer's weather, many producers were looking at a cost of $400-500 to hay and feed from late summer to grass this spring. The economics of the situation at that time dictated destocking. Some sold out completely, but typically 10-50% of individual herds "went to town." Hopefully, those cows sold were old, out of synchronization reproductively, lowproducers, and/or didn't fit the rest of the herd for some reason.
Beef cattle producers are a pretty optimistic group, however. Stress began to lessen as early as last fall when the rains began. Outlook brightened as wheat pasture prospects improved, and the mildness of the winter, at least so far, has moved optimism to amazing levels relative to last August. Now, it looks like an early spring, and right or wrong, many producers are beginning to think about rebuilding their cowherds. If you are one, it's none too early. There are many things to consider.
Age
Last summer you probably culled the older end of your cows: those with less
years to pay back the $400-500 cost of keeping them. That same thought process
should carry over to your new purchases: a cow young enough to stay in your
herd a sufficient length of time to pay out her initial cost. If you are
thinking about bred or first-calf heifers, keep in mind that their nutritional
and management needs are unique. Often, heifers need to be handled separately
until their first calves are weaned. Make sure your management and resources
can handle the special needs of these classes of females.
Stage of Reproduction
One of the most cost effective management practices in any operation is a
controlled/limited calving season. All aspects of an operation can be improved
economically when the entire herd and calf crop can be handled as one
contemporary group. If you are considering restocking, don't pass up the
opportunity to tighten up your herd's reproduction. Determine which season fits
you best and buy replacements to fit it. If you are going the heifer route, it
would be preferable to purchase ones that will calve or have calved at least a
month ahead of your mature cow herd. This would give them another 30 days to
rebreed along with your mature cows.
Health
Any cow you purchase should be calfhood-vaccinated against brucellosis. Your
initial immunization and parasite control program will depend on their stage of
reproduction and your knowledge of their previous treatment. Consult with your
veterinarian to develop a plan of action and to review your annual health
program.
Breed/Size
There are at least two major considerations in the size and breed of females
you purchase. First, and most important, is your land and forage resource.
Generally, as intensity of management increases and the forage base moves from
range to introduced grasses, cow size can increase accordingly. In my opinion,
the most productive cows in our part of the country should weigh between 1,000
and 1,200 pounds in a body condition score of five. Second is the marketability
of the calves the new cows will produce. A recent OSU study of feeder calf
marketability emphasizes the value of uniformity in the calf crop. Age, breed,
and size primarily influence uniformity of the calf crop. Other factors such as
availability and personal preferences may play a role in the type of females
you select.
Price
Some economists predict that significant rebuilding of the nation's cow herd
won't occur until calf prices improve, perhaps not until this fall or the
spring of 2000. If so, the demand for quality replacement females may not
outpace the supply this spring. This may be the opportunity to rebuild at
moderate cost. My approach has always been to buy the best females one can
afford. I'll leave it at that. When you de-stocked last summer, you no doubt
purged your herd of many problem cows. Don't buy your problems back. Use this
opportunity to increase the uniformity, stage of reproduction, and quality of
your herd.