So how do you make the most of the cow ?
Amundson shares tips for reducing feed costs by grazing corn residue and cover crops ; decreasing waste through improved hay storage and feeding ; limit-feeding cows ; and improving genetic efficiencies .
She writes , “ Feed costs are inevitably the greatest cost to maintain a cow . Properly feeding breeding stock is important , as they are the long-term profitability of the herd . Some ways to cut costs in regard to feeding cows would be to use graze corn stalks or cover crops . If able to graze your own corn stocks or cover crops , the cost of feeding that cow for a few months is minimal , thus reducing some of the overhead costs . Profitable cow-calf operations are those that observe an extended grazing season . Crop residue or cover crops can provide 60 days of grazing , sometimes more depending upon acres available and weather conditions .”
In part two of the series , Amundson dials in on other variables that can be costly for ranching operations . These variables include calf death rates , cow carrying capacity , cow depreciation , replacement heifer costs and cull cows and bulls .
Amundson writes , “ Producers should pay close attention to calf death loss . Calf death loss plays a large role since more live calves on the ground result in greater gross income . Average national calf loss of calves born dead or calves died before weaning is 6.5 - 7 %. Of the 6.5 - 7 % of those calves , 44.6 % of these calves were born dead . The remaining calves that were lost were within 24 hours
following birth , more than 24 hours but less than 3 weeks , and prior to weaning .”
She suggests focusing on cow nutrition at birth , environment , morning calving dates , providing shelter , vaccinating calves and tightening the calving window to reduce calf death loss .
Part one and two of the series can be read at https :// extension . sdstate . edu / capitalizing-cow-costs .
Now is a great time to evaluate your expenses over the last 12 months and make adjustments to the operation as needed .
A lot may change for beef producers in the next four years , depending on how things shake loose in the political arena , but in the meantime , if we can focus on what we can control back at home on the ranch , we ’ ll all be in better shape no matter what policies or changes come our way in 2021 .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR : Amanda Radke raises Limousin cattle with her family at NOLZ Limousin in Mitchell , SD . She is also a blogger for BEEF Magazine and the author of ranch-themed children ’ s books , “ Levi ’ s Lost Calf ” and “ Can-Do Cowkids .” Connect with her at www . amandaradke . com .
GENETICS For
The FUTURE
Production Sale
Selling
TUESDAY MARCH 16 , 2021 Napoleon Livestock , Napoleon , ND
45 Bulls — Red and Black , All Polled , Purebred and Lim-Flex 15 Purebred Bred Heifers — AI ’ d to TREF EZ Street to calve April 1 Pick of the 2020 Open Heifers — 60 to choose from
Sale broadcast on
Family Owned & Operated
Sale Management :
KILEY McKINNA • 402-350-3447 mcmarketingsales @ aol . com www . mcmarketingmanagement . com
9741 142ND AVE . NE • CAVALIER , ND 58220 TOM : 701-520-0110 • DAVID : 701-520-2556 • CRAIG : 701-520-1624 WWW . VAUGHNFARMSLIMOUSIN . COM FIND US ON f VAUGHNFARMSLIMOUSIN
Maternal Brother and Many Sons Sell
CE : 10 BW : 3.3
WW : 75 YW : 113 MK : 15 TM : 53 SC : 0.6 DC : 20
RE : 1.62 MB : -0.06
$ MTI : 56 WW : 875 lbs . YW : 1,479 lbs .
Red • Homo Polled • Purebred • JLX Red Bull x DLVL Miss Toronto 145Y 2015 High-Selling Bull , owned with Bar 3R Limousin , Canada
Many Sons Sell
For additional sale information visit : www . vaughnfarmslimousin . com
TOMV Diesel 619D
DLVL Bud Ice 4112B
Red • Homo Polled • Purebred • GV Austin 701A x Miss Tom 118Y 2017 High-seller , owned with Treftz Limousin , SD and Effertz Black Butte Acres , ND .
• JANUARY 2021
CE : 10 BW : 2.9 WW : 88 YW : 135 MK : 26 TM : 70 SC : 0.1 DC : 22 RE : 1.65 MB : -0.1 $ MTI : 59
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