How many cows do u cast every year

[valtraman]

Just wondering how many cows people put away cast on average every year .
I’m running 200 aa x suckler cows keeping all home bred replacements. Last two years I’ve on average put 35-40 away cast for various reasons . Udders/feet/old age/ some that lost calves at birth and didn’t have a spare for. It sounds a high number to get through almost quarter my Herd but possibly not. I know some folk will keep old old cows with massive udders etc we generally get rid once udders go low or couple bad quarters

 

[M-J-G]

Around 12 to 15%
Selecting for feet and udders will mean older cows will still be functional, but after around 10yo cow performance starts to lessen, so unless they are an exceptional animal within the herd it makes sense to replace her with a fresh cow while she's still fit and healthy.

Keeping cows a year too long will loose more than it takes to replace them.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

The price cull cows are it doesn’t really matter.....unless anything goes wrong with them I will keep them up to 20 years old

 

[Werzle]

On a settled herd 5-10% per year (barren, mastitis, wild, poor quality calves/old cow etc) but have replaced upto 30% in some years when trying to improve the quality quicker.

 

[valtraman]

Oldest in heard is15 at moment but u wouldn’t think it. I suppose because I have so many replacements to choose from I can be a bit more ruthless what goes.

 

[JSmith]

Had a cow away this year that was 18 years old, little old fashioned blue coloured cow with cock horns, cost 460 with a charx heifer calf on about ten years ago! Scragg of a thing when I bought it but had a cracking calf every year after that until last year when her milk went off her! Hard as nails she was, as long as they’re still productive an don’t cause a massive problem they stay, I don’t mind getting a calf to suck for a couple of days if there’s a big teat about especially if we’re down on numbers abit but when it becomes unmanageable they’re gone!

 

[willie waver]

6-10 a year from a 100 cow herd, got a pretty old herd and only get rid when something is wrong with them. probably a bit too sentimental in keeping cows tbh. only ran 4 heifers with the bull this year

 

[tinsheet]

About 20% all home bred, I'm culling hard mind, any problems then their off,

 

[M-J-G]

6-10 a year from a 100 cow herd, got a pretty old herd and only get rid when something is wrong with them. probably a bit too sentimental in keeping cows tbh. only ran 4 heifers with the bull this year

6% means your cows are averaging almost 17 calves before culling.
That's amazing

 

[M-J-G]

Oldest in heard is15 at moment but u wouldn’t think it. I suppose because I have so many replacements to choose from I can be a bit more ruthless what goes.

The odd one like that is fine and I've done it myself, but too many of them aren't ideal as they are higher risk.

 

[valtraman]

To be fair I wouldn’t think she was 15, great feet good udder produces a decent heifer calf every year only bother is she has slipped from spring into a back end calver, she won’t see bull again and will rear her calve until spring next year then she will be culled . Most my cows are about 10 year old when they leave. Used to buy in cows when we were upping numbers and find nothing lasts like our own breeding

 

[willie waver]

6% means your cows are averaging almost 17 calves before culling.
That's amazing

and 10% is only 10 calves, which isn't amazing at all, the average will be in the middle

 

[M-J-G]

and 10% is only 10 calves, which isn't amazing at all, the average will be in the middle

You think averaging 10 calves isn't good?
I'd say that's excellent.

 

[Treecreeper]

If you take a good hard look at your weaned calves you will see that the ones from older cows won't have the look about them that the others do. I've kept cows till 18 or 19 in the past to build numbers, nearly always ended badly with no milk or other problem. At that age they don't hold their flesh and make very poor culls. I'm trying to replace the minimum of 10%, all home bred.

 

[Sharpy]

If you take a good hard look at your weaned calves you will see that the ones from older cows won't have the look about them that the others do. I've kept cows till 18 or 19 in the past to build numbers, nearly always ended badly with no milk or other problem. At that age they don't hold their flesh and make very poor culls. I'm trying to replace the minimum of 10%, all home bred.

10% ish replacement rate here. As far as I can see cows are in their prime from about 7 or 8 till around 12. But plenty go before that, failure to get back in calf the main reason. Dairy crosses tend not to hold condition and age badly.

 

[M-J-G]

10% ish replacement rate here. As far as I can see cows are in their prime from about 7 or 8 till around 12. But plenty go before that, failure to get back in calf the main reason. Dairy crosses tend not to hold condition and age badly.

Interesting that you find it taking them to such an age before they are at their prime.

I've found if calving at 2 from their 2nd calf onwards to be prime.
If allowed to run until they are 3 I think they should be prime from the get go.

 

[Sharpy]

Interesting that you find it taking them to such an age before they are at their prime.

I've found if calving at 2 from their 2nd calf onwards to be prime.
If allowed to run until they are 3 I think they should be prime from the get go.

They just seem to get on with it then, better mothers, easier calving, less problems, retain flesh better, and it shows in the calves. The bothers all seem to occur in the younger and to a lesser extent in the older cows. They tend to get thinner then don't get in calf, tricky bit is spotting this before its a problem.

 

[Chae1]

If you take a good hard look at your weaned calves you will see that the ones from older cows won't have the look about them that the others do. I've kept cows till 18 or 19 in the past to build numbers, nearly always ended badly with no milk or other problem. At that age they don't hold their flesh and make very poor culls. I'm trying to replace the minimum of 10%, all home bred.

I always go through our worst performing calves and 9/10 they are out of older cows. Normally go here at 10-12 years.

 

[Treecreeper]

This thread has set me thinking, currently have two 13yr old cows, I was thinking to give them another yr sound in all ways but one condition score plainer than the others.

 

[Sharpy]

This thread has set me thinking, currently have two 13yr old cows, I was thinking to give them another yr sound in all ways but one condition score plainer than the others.

If in calf run around with better treatment then withhold bull and cull. If empty withhold bull then cull. Problems ahead in my experience.