Cattle producers should sell their heifers this fall and replace them with bred cows, suggests a Manitoba livestock specialist.
John Popp said the idea is worth a look because there is not a large spread between the price of bred cows and good yearling heifers. An added incentive is that the bred cows will yield a calf next year whereas the heifers will not.
“You’re going to find a spread of roughly $200 to go from a heifer calf to a bred cow so it makes a lot of sense to spend the money that way instead of the other way.”
Read Also
Dennis Laycraft to be inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame
Dennis Laycraft, a champion for the beef industry, will be inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame this fall.
Heifer prices have been decent this fall, bolstered by the reopening of the American border to Canadian live cattle.
The value of bred cattle in Manitoba is not expected to show the same kind of resurgence. The ability of producers to expand their herds has been hobbled by the financial challenges of the past 21/2 years. Meanwhile, there are producers wanting to sell off their herds so they can retire or pursue opportunities outside the cattle industry.
It is still too early to tell where prices for bred cows will go this fall, said Michael Buchen, Manitoba Agriculture’s business development specialist for finished beef. He said there hasn’t been enough movement to establish a market.
At a recent cattle sale at Ashern, Man., heifers between 400 and 500 pounds averaged $1.21 per lb.
Many producers prefer to keep their own heifers as replacements because they know the parentage of those animals.
Keeping the herd closed also can alleviate the risk of bringing disease onto the farm.
Popp advised producers to shop among reputable sources when buying bred cows.
“You’ve got to sift through what you’re buying.”
