Management
in the calves they sire. As an example, it helps users
see whether a bull costing $30 more per calf is
returning at least that much more in value.
On the cost side of the equation, the CVC considers
such things as purchase price, feed cost, salvage
value and ultimate replacement cost.
In terms of calf value, users estimate the added average
dollar difference they expect from calves sired by the bull.
Yes, that’s subjective, but necessarily so. What’s valuable
in one herd and to what degree is unlike another.
Plus, Stockton notes, “Every producer manages differently. As a
result, they’ll get a different response from the same genetics.”
Likewise, McGrann developed the Herd Bull Investment and
Cost Analysis several years ago. It’s a decision aid that addresses
comprehensive cost on one side of the ledger. On the other,
expected calf revenue is based on weaning weight and price.
Both of these aids serve up results such as the annual
service cost per cow and per calf weaned, as well as other
metrics to gauge the economic differences between bulls.
“Calculated cost per calf and per hundredweight of calf
weaned per cow exposed are good indicators to compare bull
investments,” McGrann says. “The number of calves required to
pay for the bull is a good indicator to monitor the investment.”
“I think producers need to pay attention to what it
costs to get a cow bred; not just bred, but the cost of
getting a calf sired by that bull.” Stockton says.
“With bulls representing 50% of the genetics of the program
(single year, no replacements), you cannot afford to give up
genetic progress in your herd at the expense of cheap bulls that
don’t match or advance your production goals,” Gunn says. I
This article originally appeared in BEEF magazine as part of the
Seedstock 100 program sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.
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