Page 4 - MWC 10-6-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · October 6, 2022 · P4
Not all cows are created
equal.
No matter what color or
breed you prefer there is a lot
of variation in the most uni-
form herds. There was a time
when we had bulls for sale,
that I started a kind of game
with those who would come to
look at cattle. Cowmen – at
least seasoned, experienced
cowmen have this thing about
driving all over thunder to look
through a herd of cows. It’s
what we do. We love to look
at cattle. In some places you
might drive around half of the
morning just to find them, but
on our place, they would usu-
ally meet us at the gate – they
were that quiet and calm. Use
rotational grazing, and the
cattle will come when they see
you coming. They know it’s
time to enjoy a new piece of
real estate and the forage that
comes with it.
As I would pull through the
gate, my game was to challenge
the visitor to look through our
small herd and tell me which
cow was the best. “I want you
to pick out the best cow in the
pasture.” I’d say, “Which one do
you think she is?” No one ever
passed up the challenge, but
very few ever got it right.
Inevitability, they would
usually choose the same kind
of cow. She would usually be
bigger than average – maybe
a real showstopper. I remem-
ber one such cow. Visitors put
the virtual ‘blue ribbon’ on her
more than any other. Without
any real data or history, she
sure looked the part, but had
they had her production infor-
mation in front of them, they
would have surely passed her
over and looked at the rest a
little closer.
During that decade, records
and experience came to prove
that the best – most valuable
cow in that pasture was one
folks rarely no-
ticed. She was a
smaller, more ef-
ficient cow that
weaned off one of
the largest calves
every year. She
weaned off a high
indexing calf
every year of her
life. She was the
one female that
should have been
a ‘donor cow’, but
until the produc-
tion was done and
the data was tabu-
lated no one would
have guessed it.
Both her sons and
daughters were
outstanding. If we
had been really
smart, we would Remember, genetically speaking, half your herd is the bull – the quickest place to up your game… or end it.
have figured out how to have a “Some people say the price is you can stop speculating (gam-
whole herd just like her.
too low, some say the price is bling) quite so much in the cat-
Isn’t it time to stop guessing too high, but actually the price tle market. That’s what you’re
and gambling?
is just right! It’s where the sell- doing if you have it all on the
The cow that can milk – er and buyer agree.” “That’s line – one day of the year with-
raising a calf in the top third, not all,” he continued, “It’s also out price protection. It used
hold her condition and breed where the average producer to be really complicated, but
back every year is the one you goes out of business – where he that’s no longer the case. It’s
are looking for, but today there goes ‘broke’!” Now apply that also not cost prohibitive.
is less guessing, or at least to cows and the cow business. Let me close by introducing
there should be. You can find Can you afford a whole herd you to one of our new advertis-
that cow a lot faster than we of average cows? Maybe you ers – Missouri Metal Buildings
used to be able to. Today, every can make it work if you are an (page 9). Whatever you own
breed has more reliable data, above average manager. Some that’s worth having is worth
indexes and EPD information are you know – about half. But protecting from the elements.
than ever before. The problem the above average manager is Hay, equipment – even your
is very few producers cull hard not going to be satisfied with cattle working area and equip-
enough. This year is certainly average, and he (or she) is sure ment will last longer and hold
going to change that. Tough not going to be guessing – no, value better under a metal
years make good managers there is going to be a constant building. If you like the idea
better and show below-aver- push to improve based on reli- of dealing directly with a local
age managers the gate. It’s able data. family-owned business, give
not a time to be guessing and
Where is the best place to do them a call!
gambling with your livelihood. that? Remember, genetically May the Lord bless you in
For some traits there are no speaking, half your herd is the this difficult season – May
numbers, but they have a way bull or bulls. There is where you find that outstanding cow
of showing up in the final anal- you start. There is where in your herd early in life and
ysis. That cow out grazing on a you cull the hardest. There is make many more like her.
sunny day when the rest of the where you pay the most atten- When the dust settles, and it
herd is in the shade is proba- tion to the information. There will settle, may you be in the
bly more productive. The cow is the quickest place to up your top half.
that is more protective at calv- game… or end it. Enjoy life’s simple plea-
ing time may be a challenge, Genetics is not the only sures. The ones that matter
but what are the chances that place where producers need to most.
she’ll bring in a calf at weaning stop guessing and gambling. KwC
time over some others? Both A lot of folks are still market-
of these are hard to measure ing their entire calf crop on
but will show up in the herd one day without any attention
data eventually. If we don’t to price protection. School is
have that herd data, we’re just never out for the successful
guessing and gambling. cattleman. On page eight of
I remember an economics every edition, there is a man’s
lesson where the instructor re- name and phone number. Pick
ally got my attention. He said, up the phone and ask him how