Michelle Arnold, DVM, discusses considerations for culling cows from the herd. Twenty percent of gross receipts in a typical cow-calf operation come from the sale of cull animals. Paying attention to price seasonality and body condition scores is important before sending them to market.
Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, February 23, 2017.
Dr. Arnold offers this list of factors to consider for cow-calf producers making culling decisions: Example of a Culling Order
- Mean disposition
- Structurally unsound/chronic condition
- Poor performance-records
- Replacement heifers
- Bred cows 3-9 years of age
- Open females
- Age
- Phenotype-color, stature
- Bred cows over 9 years of age