r.n.reed
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2008
- Messages
- 611
Interesting reading in the July issue of beef magazine.The article summarized cow costs for the last year based on records kept on a substantial number of herds in North Dakota.These records had been kept for 18 years and the average herd size was 150 cows.
A couple standouts were first there is little correlation between herd profit and high weaning weights.Second was that replacement costs for 2012 were 38% of the total annual cost per cow and this in a year when keeping replacements was not a high priority for most producers.
Could the day be approaching when cattlemen ask how many pounds/dollar input instead of what was his weaning weight,or begin to question the seedstock producer who replaces 25% plus of his herd every year or has an average age cowherd of 4 years or has built his herd on embryo producers instead of live calf producers.
Also another article in the magazine stated that 80% of the cows in this country are in herds of 150 or more head.
A couple standouts were first there is little correlation between herd profit and high weaning weights.Second was that replacement costs for 2012 were 38% of the total annual cost per cow and this in a year when keeping replacements was not a high priority for most producers.
Could the day be approaching when cattlemen ask how many pounds/dollar input instead of what was his weaning weight,or begin to question the seedstock producer who replaces 25% plus of his herd every year or has an average age cowherd of 4 years or has built his herd on embryo producers instead of live calf producers.
Also another article in the magazine stated that 80% of the cows in this country are in herds of 150 or more head.