By Aaron Berger
For many cow-calf operations in central and western Nebraska, significant culling may be required to match cow numbers to the forage available, not only for 2026, but also for the next few years. For operations that have spent generations building the type of cow they want, there is a strong commitment to retain a core of foundation females from which to rebuild the herd when it rains again.
This article covers considerations and possible strategies to retain a core of females to rebuild a cowherd.
1. Conduct a comprehensive herd assessment
Before proceeding with retention and culling decisions, consider conducting a comprehensive assessment of current cowherd suitability for operational goals:
- What is the type and kind of cow that is in the operation now?
- Is that same type and kind of cow going to be a fit for the expected resources and environment going forward?
- Are environmental conditions likely to get easier or harder?
- Is a cow with greater resilience going to be needed?
- Is labor, equipment, and infrastructure going to be less or more expensive?
- Is there currently a core of the cowherd that fits the identified type and kind that it is desired for the future?
While subjective, these questions can establish a foundation for future decision-making. If a shift in breeding objectives is desired, now may be an opportune time to do it.
2. Identify primary culling candidates
For most operations, the easy cows to cull from the herd have probably already been identified. These are cows that have one or more obvious strikes against them. Flawed/blemished cows continue to garner historically high prices relative to previous years, allowing more discriminating culling decisions.
- Cows without a calf, or those that have been poor producers, are the first to go.
- The second group is poor temperament, eyes, udders, feet, structure, as well as gimps, lumps, bumps and significant dental deterioration. Most operations have already sold these cows.
Source : unl.edu