Page 15 - MWC 8-20-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 20, 2020 · P15
ADDING VALUE TO CULL COWS

By Stephen Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist
ter once they at- Sometimes the cattle feeder
tain a body weight who has not seen the market
of 22 pounds per rise sufficiently, by the time
inch height at the cows are ready to sell will
the cow’s withers. hold onto the cows, awaiting a
While this sim- market improvement. Rarely,
ple formula may however, is such an upswing
not precisely de- adequate to recover the ex-
scribe the most tremely high cost of gain for
optimum end the over-finished cows.
point for feeding Factor 2: The Buy/Sell Margin
and slaughter for Most cows are culled in the
every type of ge- fall of the year at weaning
netic combination time, so they usually are worth
of cow, it is rea- less per pound than at other
sonably appropri- times of the year. Prices usual-
ate for the great ly rise from the fall selling pe-
majority of cull riod of October- December into
beef cows being the winter and spring periods.
fed to slaughter. Prices peak in March-May and
Monitoring the decrease throughout the sum-
weight-to-height
Approximately 10 to 20 per- to slaughter cow composition mer. This price pattern is based
cent of the returns to a cow-calf for several reasons. Cows that ratio of a random sample of on historical averages. Feeders,
cows during the feeding period
operation are from selling cull have lung damage may appear and periodically body condition however, need to evaluate prof-
cows in the fall. There are four thin and unthrifty. Cows with scoring the group will prevent it potentials every year that
factors that need to be consid- heavy parasite loads will be excessively fat cows from be-
ered to obtain profit from feed- less efficient unless treated. coming a problem. continued on page 25
ing cull cows. First, the cows Cows with infectious condi-
have to be thin but healthy. tions such as lumpy jaw should
Second, the buy/sell margin be avoided. Older cows (great-
should be positive. Third, cost er than 4 years old) can be fed
of gain should be relative- but expect the rate of gain to be
ly cheap. The odds of a profit less than that of younger cows.
are increased whenever these Information on the use of ion-
three conditions are present. ophores and implants in cull
The final requirement need- cows is limited.
ed involves financial solvency. Weight loss of animals is
Only producers that can absorb normally a composite of fat and
financial risk should feed cull protein with protein normally
cows for short time periods. regained at a slower rate than
Factor 1: Cows Should Be fat. Cows that are in normal or
Thin But Healthy higher condition will tend to
add more fat as weight gain, re-
Cows often lose up to 20 per- Call Now for
cent of their weight during pe- sulting in lowered feed conver- Dormant
sions. Economy of weight gains
riods of under-nutrition. Cows Plantings
culled during a drought may will vary inversely with initial
cow condition. As cows improve
have even greater weight loss-
es. Thin cows offer an oppor- in body condition, economy of
gains will decline. Once cows
tunity to add weight rapidly
through compensatory gain. have regained a “normal” body
Healthy, thin cows gain weight condition, further feeding and
faster than normal condition weight gains become increas-
ingly less efficient because of
cows. Compensatory gain from
thin cows should result in the the increasing proportion of fat
deposited.
highest conversion rate and Knowing when to quit feed- www.gamagrass.com
gain, thus reducing the cost of ing cull beef cows is important
gain. because of the dramatic chang-
Some thin cull cows are es occurring in the economy of
young and still growing. Most gains. Outlets for excessively
have weaned a calf and are fat cow carcasses is and has al-
thin due to the demands of ways been very limited. Based
lactation. However, some thin on Kansas research, most beef
cows may not be able to return
cows are fat enough for slaugh-