Page 25 - MWC 3-30-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · March 30, 2023 · P25
4 O’S FOR ‘CRAZY’ COWS
4 O’S FOR ‘CRAZY’ COWS
Load ’em up and ship ’em out.
Load ’em up and ship ’em out.
By Linda Geist
That’s the advice Univer- livestock producers who have
sity of Missouri Extension been on the receiving end of
livestock specialist Andy Mc- an ornery cow, says he abides
Corkill gives on “crazy cows.” by the 4 “O’s” of culling cattle:
He spoke to livestock and for- open, old, ornery and other.
age producers March 7 at the Select the right replace-
Christian County Livestock ment heifers as you prepare
& Forage Conference at Clev- to rebuild the breeding herd,
er, Missouri. he says. “The Show-Me-Se-
Post-drought hay shortag- lect platform is a sound ap-
es have forced cattle produc- proach to finding the ones
ers to cull cows that aren’t a that will work.” With costs
good fit for their operations. like they are now, it may
Short hay supplies press pro- even be smart to maintain
ducers to tighten cow herds, current, smaller inventories
but routine culling can im- and evaluate management
prove herd management before adding additional ani-
overall. mals back into the operation,
Even though the cull cow he says.
market has remained rela- Cows need to earn their
tively stable, don’t carry un- keep, even in years when
productive cows through the forages and hay are plenti-
winter, McCorkill says. Poor ful, he adds. Here are some
cows eat up more than hay. guidelines:
They eat up profit margins. •First-calf heifers must
McCorkill calculated the calve by 24 months.
daily feed costs for cows eat- •Cows should produce a
ing lower-quality hay and a calf each year.
feed supplement of more than •Cows must produce the
$3 per head per day many right amount of milk for the
times this winter. “Sticker calf.
shock really sinks in when •Keep cows with good ge-
you look at the costs over netics.
the whole winter,” he says. •Cows should maintain
When you feed that way for good body condition scores.
120-150 days year, it’s easy •Cows must have a good
to have $400-$500 per head disposition.
tied up in winter feed costs MU Extension
alone.” That’s another reason
to give freeloaders a ride on
the first trailer headed to the
sale barn.
McCorkill, like many other

4 “O’s” of culling cattle: Open, Old, Ornery and Other.