By Kim Ricardo
Evaluating and marketing cull cows may not be the most enjoyable part of ranch management, but it remains one of the most important tools for improving both the sustainability and profitability of a cow-calf operation. Too often, cull cows are treated as a byproduct of the herd when, in reality, they can make a major contribution to annual ranch income. In many operations, cull cow sales account for 15-25% of yearly revenue, and in today’s historically strong market, that percentage can be even higher. Delaying culling decisions or carrying unproductive cows becomes increasingly expensive under these conditions.
Strategic culling becomes even more critical during periods of drought and limited forage availability. Across the southern third of South Dakota, recurring drought conditions have forced producers to more aggressively evaluate stocking rates and prioritize cows that will generate the greatest return moving forward. Every open cow carried into the season consumes feed, pasture, labor, and water resources without contributing to next year’s calf crop. In years where hay supplies are tight and pasture recovery is uncertain, those resources become far too valuable to waste.
Pregnancy diagnosis remains one of the most valuable management tools in a cow-calf operation. Identifying open cows immediately after the breeding season allows producers to market those females before incurring winter feed costs and before larger volumes of cows enter the market due to widespread drought liquidation. In addition, culling late-calving females can tighten the calving distribution, increasing herd uniformity and improving calf crop consistency. These strategies reduce feed costs and allow limited forage resources to be redirected toward productive females carrying next year’s calf crop. Producers should also evaluate bulls after the breeding season and cull those that are older, unsound, or subfertile, particularly when forage resource are limited.
Another strategy some operations may consider is selling heifer calves rather than retaining them for development. One challenge with selling replacement heifers, however, is that they represent the newest genetics in the herd. Producers should carefully weigh the cost of development and the time required before those females begin generating revenue. Another strategy is to market cull cows at the same time of purchasing replacements to improve cash flow when finances are strained. Replacement females are often one of the largest annual investments in a cow-calf operation, and coordinating cull sales alongside replacement purchases can help offset those costs while maintaining herd productivity. During drought conditions, this approach also helps avoid expanding beyond available forage resources.
Source : sdstate.edu